A Brief Review of Research on Exhibition Evaluation and Exhibition Selection

Exhibition evaluation and exhibition selection are two key methods of exhibition assessment. While they share common goals, differ in terms of their focus and implementation. As a result, they have a mutually reinforcing relationship, collectively advancing the professionalization of exhibition assessment. In this context, by incorporating research findings from both exhibition evaluation and exhibition selection, an attempt is made to trace the development of exhibition evaluation, from the early stages of assessment to the more formalized selection processes. This paper organizes the development into three stages based on distinct characteristics: the nascent phase before the 1950s, the growth phase from the 1950s to the 1970s, and the flourishing phase from the 1980s to the present. Through this, the professionalization of exhibition assessment is outlined: the emergence of educational evaluation methods gave rise to the exploration of exhibition evaluation standards, practical evaluations stimulated discussions on these standards, and a focus on exhibition selection standards led to the development of formal criteria.