This article first appeared in Exhibitionist (Spring 2012) and is reproduced  with permission. You can access the complete article by contacting us for a PDF link.

Written by Mia Schillace-Nelson, Founder/Partner and Creative Director of Outhouse Exhibit Services

We were thrilled to be included in the most recent issue of Exhibitionist magazine, an issue that is entirely dedicated to the most current trends in traveling exhibitions. Our article focuses on living collections in a non-zoo setting, and the various considerations any institution must evaluate before making even this short-term commitment.

In our ten plus years of developing and touring these types of exhibitions, we have witnessed time and again the impact of live animals on a traditional museum audience, and have seen our clients enjoy high attendance figures with the added benefit of a staff that is engaged and inspired by their role in the care and maintenance of the living collection.

"Without a doubt, we see increased visitor engagement, excitement, and more time spent in the gallery when live animasl are a part of the exhibition," says Mariah Romaninsky, Education Manager at the Delaware Museum of Natural History. "It makes the extra effort on the part of the staff worthwhile."

But these exhibitions and their inhabitants have special requirements and considerations, from who on your staff takes care of the animals on a day-to-day basis to the careful selection of a reputable organization.

For the article in its entirety, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. " data-mce-href="mailto: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a downloadable PDF.

Academy of Sciences hosts BUGS...Outside The Box

Wondrous Wings: Butterfly Exhibition Experience

Outhouse is pleased to announce a new option for your institution: The Butterfly Exhibition Experience!

Outhouse's Butterfly Exhibition Experience is a screened enclosure, fully equipped with butterflies, garden pathways, and everything your institution needs to provide an up close and personal experience with live butterflies (and moths).      

Proven attendance drivers, they bring a living piece of the natural world to your visitors for an unforgettable educational exhibition experience. Our package includes everything your institution needs, from guidance through the USDA paperwork, to developing a butterfly and plant species list specific to your location, to the structure, bedding plants and an initial stocking of butterflies. We'll be there for you throughout the entire run of your exhibition, and come back at the end to take it all down again.

The Butterfly Exhibition Experience package can function indoors or outdoors, and also comes with a set of colorful banners detailing a butterfly's life cycle, the butterfly/plant connection, and important conservation issues. If you have something more specific in mind, we also offer consultation packages and designs from the ground up, to create a one-of-a-kind exhibition. Please contact us for more information about our Butterfly Exhibition Experience.

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