The duration of a game art(s) exhibition must align with its overall goals, within the capacity of the producers to offer the experience to the standard expected of them by the venue and audience. Typically an art exhibition with no interactive elements lasts roughly 6 months, whereas standard gaming conventions last only a few days; history museums often have much longer exhibitions, lasting multiple years, while smaller galleries might have an exhibition that lasts a few weeks before new works are rotated in. The duration of any exhibition dedicated to the display of video games must be determined based on the following considerations:

1. What is the goal of the event, and how much time will it take to achieve that goal? The goal of a convention or indie showcase might be to have as many people play a game as possible, in the hopes that they might purchase or download the game on their own systems; an exhibition dedicated to showcasing work around a particular theme or highlighting the oeuvre of one developer may be less concerned with number of physical interactions but require more time for critical looking, supplementary programming, and promotion.

2. What funds are available for ongoing exhibition maintenance and security? On top of base funds needed to produce an event, any exhibition with interactive objects will require producers to discuss the need for on-site maintenance and/or security staff. Objects that require touch for interaction may require repeated sanitation; high-priced but small items such as speakers, controllers, and handheld consoles or touchscreen interfaces might be targeted for theft or vandalism; large numbers of visitors in a short burst of time may cause a different type of “wear-and-tear” than many visitors over an extended period; and continued use over an extended period of time will necessitate replacements or repairs to certain interactive elements.

3. Are the objects on display replaceable/repairable or are they unique or specific to the installation or work? An irreplaceable object (such as a unique work of art or a site-specific installation) may benefit from a longer exhibition period, allowing more individuals to engage with it (as they would not be able to do at home or in another venue); however, considerations of funding, security, and maintenance may limit the length of time that such a work can reasonably be displayed safely.

4. Are there alternative methods of display that can abate issues of overuse? Still images, enclosed object displays, and time-based but non-interactive media may extend the length of time an object or objects can be displayed safely, but may be less popular or less engaging to an audience (in comparison to interactives). A short exhibition period with no non-interactive objects may ensure the safety of the works on display but limit the amount of exposure for the exhibition as a whole; a longer exhibition with a mix of object types may allow for a larger audience to experience the exhibition, but with less opportunities for direct engagement between curator, maker, and viewer.

In the context of this article, I am using the terms exhibition, event, and program interchangeably; in the case of most venues and institutions, these terms have specific internal meanings and are not interchangeable per se.

Lauren Kolodkin, Smithsonian American Art Museum

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