Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (Grand Bay Coastal Resources Center)

The Grand Bay Coastal Resources Center will implement “Visualizing Interpretive Space through Integrative Teamwork” (VISIT), a new initiative to develop a redesign plan for its exhibit space through multi-level community engagement. The center will initiate the project by distributing a survey, holding focus groups, and traveling to local museums to collect feedback on the existing space. The center will then contract with an exhibit designer to perform an on-site exhibit assessment. The project team and exhibit designer will convene an advisory panel of classroom teachers, informal educators, and other community members to participate in a workshop to create the action plan for the exhibit space. By navigating the redesign process with community input, the center will create a learning environment that appeals to various audiences and participants will feel a sense of pride and ownership in the future space.