Identifying the wall or space available for the exhibition. Ideally, this will be a visible and accessible location where your community can regularly return to experience the work.

The installation can take several forms depending on your space and goals:

• A simple wall display presenting the Collaborative Masterwork

• A larger wall installation that includes the Collaborative Masterwork alongside any or all accompanying components, such as the Photographic Portrait Mural, participant Signature Sheets, and a video monitor presenting community stories

• A group exhibition in which the artwork is presented alongside other works

• Installation as part of a permanent collection display, allowing the work to remain part of your institution’s ongoing presentation

• A broader exhibition incorporating materials connected to the National Scrollathon, including documentation or artworks created in other states and territories

These components may be exhibited in many different configurations over time, allowing the artwork to evolve within your space as programming and exhibitions change.

We are happy to work with you to determine the format that best serves your institution and community.

If an institution does not acquire the original tray-based artwork, we provide a high-resolution digital file so the completed Collaborative Masterwork may be printed and displayed.

This printed version visually replicates the completed artwork.

Recommended Printing Specifications

Preferred presentation

• UV-printed Dibond (aluminum composite panel)
• Standard 3mm Dibond
• Gloss white finish
• All edges sealed for durability and clean presentation
• Mounted using cleats, standoffs, direct wall mounting, or framing

Alternate options (also acceptable)

• Foam core mounting for lighter or temporary installations
• Fine art paper prints, framed or mounted

Not recommended

• Canvas-style prints or low resolution printing, as we aim to maintain a fine art presentation.

We provide print-ready files and can assist with sizing or installation recommendations as needed.

When an institution acquires the finished Collaborative Masterwork, the original artwork composed of participant-created trays may be installed using the methods below.

Each tray typically measures 12–16 inches square. Scrolls are hand-glued in place, and reinforced corner scrolls contain rubber tubing cores allowing secure screw mounting.

Installation may occur in real time during a multi-day Scrollathon program, allowing the artwork to grow publicly as trays are completed, or after the program concludes, when the full artwork is assembled and installed at once.

Installation – Option A: Direct to Wall

(Live Installation with Overnight Assembly)

• Use blue painter’s tape to mark the full perimeter of the artwork on the wall

• Begin with the bottom row, working left to right

• Trays are not mounted immediately after participants complete them — instead, they are taken offsite at the end of each day, where they are glued and prepped overnight

• The next morning, the completed trays are returned and installed on the wall before the first session begins

• This allows participants and visitors to see the artwork evolve each day, creating a sense of anticipation and pride as it grows

• Each tray is mounted directly to the wall using four screws — we recommend using a fine-threaded screw to avoid damaging the rubber hose inside each corner scroll

This method may be used during multi-day programming or after program completion when installing the finished artwork all at once.

Installation – Option B: Pre-Mounted to Plywood

(Damage-Free Wall Option)

• Trays can also be mounted in advance to a plywood backing (½"–1" thick natural or black-painted)

• This setup minimizes wall damage and makes future relocation easier

• The plywood can be laid flat on tables during the program or assembled separately

• Plywood panels are then hung using D-rings or screwed directly into the wall

• Layout order of trays can be flexible — not necessarily left-to-right or bottom-up in numbered sequence order

This option is commonly used when installation occurs after program completion or when wall protection or mobility is preferred.

Tray Labeling

Each tray is labeled with an official Scrollathon registration number in the top left-hand corner on the reverse.

Trays can be installed in any order, though hosts are welcome to follow the original sequence if preferred.

The Photographic Portrait Mural brings together images of participating community members, visually connecting the finished artwork with the people who created it.

The mural is typically completed and delivered within one to three months following the program, once photography and post-production are finalized.

We provide the Program Host with print-ready PDF files, allowing the mural to be produced locally according to the needs of your space.

Files are delivered in both portrait and horizontal orientations, scaled to match the dimensions of the Collaborative Masterwork so the two works can be displayed together in whichever configuration best suits your installation.

Recommended Printing Specifications

For institutions displaying a printed version of the Collaborative Masterwork rather than the original artwork, we recommend using the same printing approach for the portrait mural.

Preferred presentation

• UV-printed Dibond (aluminum composite panel)
• Standard 3mm Dibond
• Gloss white finish
• All edges sealed for durability and clean presentation
• Mounted using cleats, standoffs, direct wall mounting, or framing

Alternate options (also acceptable)

• Foam core mounting for lighter budget-conscious installations
• Fine art paper prints, framed or mounted

Not recommended

• Canvas-style prints or low resolution printing, as we aim to maintain a fine art presentation.

Mounting methods may include framing, direct mounting, or panel installation depending on your exhibition environment.

As part of each Scrollathon program, community participants are invited to share personal stories and reflections through the American Storytellers video series.

These videos are edited and delivered to host institutions as MP4 files, typically within several months following the program’s completion.

Institutions may use the videos in a variety of ways, including:

• Playing videos individually or in a continuous loop on a monitor or projected display within exhibition spaces
• Incorporating videos into future exhibitions or installations
• Sharing videos through institutional social media platforms or websites
• Including the videos as part of institutional archives or permanent collections documenting community participation

Institutions interested in presenting stories beyond their own program are also welcome to display a broader selection of American Storytellers videos from communities across the country. We are happy to provide a curated selection upon request.

We are happy to assist with formatting or playback recommendations as needed to suit your space or technical setup.

During the program, participants sign one to four standard 8.5 × 11-inch signature sheets documenting community involvement.

Hosts may choose to display original sheets, reproduce them, frame them, or incorporate them into exhibition displays or archives.

Installation Support & Questions

If any questions arise ahead of installation, we are happy to assist by email or Zoom. We are also comfortable reviewing plans together onsite during installation.

We are honored to create something lasting with your community and look forward to seeing the work come to life in your space.