Abstract

As museums seek to contribute to more sustainable forms of development, increasing attention is being given to the environmental impacts of their current practices. Temporary exhibitions present a particular challenge due to their short lifespans and frequent reliance on single-use materials and construction elements.

Although museum professionals are increasingly advocating for circularity, collaboration, and resource efficiency, there remains a gap in the literature examining how circular design principles can be applied to temporary exhibitions from an environmental sustainability perspective, particularly within the Australian museum sector. This paper investigates the application of circular design strategies to temporary museum exhibitions, drawing on academic literature, museum policies, and case studies from Europe and North America, which could be relevant for application in the Australian landscape. Through an analysis of current practices, the research identifies key challenges and opportunities for integrating circularity into exhibition design and considers how these approaches could be implemented within museum practice. The findings indicate that circular design strategies, particularly designing for modularity and adaptability, can reduce environmental impacts while supporting organisational and social benefits. The analysis also suggests that combining circular design with life-cycle assessment tools and stakeholder collaboration can provide designers and museums with more effective approaches to embedding sustainability throughout the exhibition process. The case studies demonstrate that aesthetics, functionality, and environmental sustainability can be integrated successfully rather than treated as competing priorities. The research highlights the need for further empirical investigation into the barriers preventing wider adoption of circular practices in temporary exhibition design and proposes that future research could support the development of an adaptable circular exhibition design framework for temporary exhibitions for museum implementation.