Hearts of Freedom traveling exhibit

The exhibition focuses on the incredible stories of Southeast Asian refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The impact of the Vietnam War, the Lao Secret War, and the Cambodian Genocide forced millions to flee their homelands and to seek safety in other countries. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has a right to life, liberty, and security of person; and the right to seek and enjoy asylum from persecution in other countries. These courageous refugees risked their lives, journeyed to different host countries, and travelled thousands of miles to Canada. The exhibition tells the stories of these survivors, in their own words and through their unique perspectives, adding to the fabric of the Canadian history of immigration.

The exhibit tells the story in 3 chapters or themes. Identical French and English versions of each exhibit theme where produced using pop-up structures. These structures are easy to install which was a key project parameter given that the exhibit is being hosted by museums but also community groups across Canada. Having the exhibit units a compact size allows hosts to arrange them according to the space they have available.

I was a member of the interpretive development team with my focus being on how to tell the stories in visually impactful and accessible ways.

Besides the exhibit, I also designed a logo used on the exhibit and marketing materials that are supplied to hosts to promote the exhibit. This marketing package includes the logo saved in print and online friendly formats, freestanding banners, and digital artworks for posters and rackcards which hosts could add their own promotional information on prior to printing them.

I also wore the project/production management hat for this one coordinating and paying for the contributions of edits, translations, and the printers and fabricators as well as making arrangements for the exhibit to be shipped to the first host site. Part of this process was acquiring quotes from all suppliers that where in keeping with a modest fixed overall project budget.

The response this exhibit has recieved from all the communities who have hosted it to date is very heart warming as is helping tell the both gut wrenching and inspiring stories the exhibit conveys.

#Southeastasia #Pier21 #exhibition #exhibitdesign #refugees #immigration