Over the course of six years I worked closely with Pratt Museum staff on their new core exhibition, Kachemak Bay: An Exploration of People & Place. Front-end research confirmed and refined exhibit messages. Results of a fun, graphic mapping activity for respondents made clear the need for an orientation station for visitors from outside of the area. Among other development-related research questions, formative studies tested the use of a poetic voice for label copy, a new approach for the institution; findings supported the poetic style. An extensive summative evaluation made use of targeted observations, tracking and timing, interviews and surveys to assess the exhibit experience overall, and impacts of individual community-based videos. We measured and documented the longest dwell time per square foot ever measured to date. Members of the community-based video teams also participated in an evaluation which found that they had a deep appreciation for the process, and for the Museum as a result. Cultural responsiveness has been key to conducting successful research in Alaska long before it came onto the radar in most other regions. The Kachemak Bay exhibition won the Museums Alaska Award for Excellence in 2009.

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