Presented at some of the world’s leading galleries and museums on a three-year tour that commenced in early 2020, this extensive exhibition features over one hundred objects including eight mummies from the world-class collections of Manchester Museum, part of the University of Manchester in the UK.
Through fascinating interpretation, beautiful object displays, multimedia programmes, and engaging interactives the exhibition examines hopes and fears about the afterlife when Egypt was part of the Greek and Roman worlds between 300BCE–200CE.
Nomad Exhibitions has spent over ten years in the research and development of a new and innovative approach to the design engineering of temporary exhibitions, resulting in a unique and market-leading concept. Nomad did not just set out to create the world’s most sustainable touring exhibition, they also extended their ambitions to create a production that was beautifully designed, providing visitors with an experience of displays that have a permanent quality. A particular challenge that the Nomad team had to overcome was in creating tourable fully integrated conservation grade display cases to securely house the loaned collections. These have been designed by Nomad to incorporate LED lighting systems and low air exchange rates enabling further energy efficiencies.
Beyond the stunning aesthetics, the exhibition has been designed in every detail to meet its carbon-neutral target: only reusable or recyclable materials are used in construction; materials have a long life-span extending far beyond the exhibition itself; and, modular display components pack tightly to considerably reduce transportation volume.
So confident is Nomad Exhibitions of its ability to tour the exhibition carbon neutrally, that the company has signed up to the Climate Neutral Now initiative, part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, becoming the first international touring exhibitions company to do so.
Nomad Exhibitions was founded as a small team of designers in 2012 with the objective to radically rethink how international touring exhibitions are designed, produced and managed. In particular, Nomad’s research and development over the past decade has focussed on maximising efficiencies in modular design and sustainable building practise. Successive Nomad productions during this period have continually refined these ideas culminating in the exhibition Golden Mummies of Egypt.
All stages of the exhibition’s life-cycle are carefully audited and tracked by the Nomad team, from design and build through to touring and transportation and finally to de-commissioning. All activities are optimised for sustainability, and any unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions, such as those generated through transportation, are meticulously quantified and compensated for through UN certified emission reduction programmes and other strategic climate funds.
As a key principle, Nomad does not use greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emission reduction programmes as a primary means to achieve their climate-neutrality; off-setting is Nomad’s final resort, once all other options have been explored. GHG’s generated through transport itself is significantly reduced by Nomad’s very low transport volumes, by comparison to other similar scale productions, and low transit weights.
Nomad’s carbon-neutral pledge is tested against Climate Neutral Now’s three main objectives for carbon neutrality, to measure, reduce, and offset. In practice, this means Nomad will comprehensively evaluate the life cycle of the exhibition by measuring their GHGs, reducing emissions throughout all activities, and financially compensating any emissions that cannot be avoided through UN certified emission reduction programmes.
The Nomad team are continually striving to improve their work and their productions by sourcing new materials and technologies further enhancing the exhibition experience for visitors around the world and ensuring that touring exhibitions, and the sharing of international collections, continue to have a place in a sustainable future.
Partner
Manchester Museum, part of the University of Manchester