The session explores the importance of a strong involvement of stakeholders (including the so called “public”) in all phases of an exhibition’s life. Three presentations set the scene. Antonio Gomes da Costa will recall how the PLACES project used exhibitions to build collaborations at a local level. Matteo Merzagora will propose an ideal 30-30-30 model for exhibition development: 30% of the resources for ‘soil’ preparation, 30% for traditional exhibition development, and 30% for animation of the exhibition by local stakeholders. Vida Konikovic will introduce the project QSEC2, funded by the Ile-de-France government, in which exhibitions co-conceived and co-produced with groups of citizens will tour the region.