Exhibits Development Group (EDG), a global leader in travelling exhibitions, is celebrating a major milestone this year with its 20th anniversary. At the same time, its sister platform, culturenut, continues to expand rapidly as a sustainable solution that helps cultural institutions and the attractions industry extend the life of their assets and reduce waste.
The vision for both companies began in 2004, when Amy Noble Seitz, founder and CEO, was touring large Egyptian and Iraqi exhibitions worldwide while working for a Danish company. When she asked for a customer relationship management database, she was simply handed three books with listed museums.
“This was when ‘culturenut’ was first hatched, as I thought, 'Wow – this is a great opportunity to make a museum database to connect museums worldwide,” Seitz shares.
While the concept was conceived then, Seitz first founded Exhibits Development Group in 2006. Over the next 13 years, EDG built a global brand, developing more than 50 exhibitions spanning art, science, history, and popular culture, and amassing a database of over 20,000 clients and partners across six continents.
Early brand-defining projects included Treasure of Napoleon, Leonardo daVinci, Lucasfilm's Star Wars, MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition, and Downton Abbey costume exhibitions.
The launch of culturenut
By 2019, the time was finally right to launch culturenut. Today, the platform has over 500 cultural institution members from more than 30 countries.
The platform was introduced to the AAM, ASTC, and EcSite communities as a comprehensive sustainability tool. As Seitz explains, it is a “sustainability platform for museums and exhibition producers to recycle and upcycle assets that would otherwise be dumped in the landfill or sit in storage.
"It would save money and make money, while being mindful of reducing landfill waste.”
By providing a one-stop shop for renting, buying, and selling retired exhibition materials, including display cases, interactive components, lighting equipment, and mannequins, culturenut supports a true circular economy.
The "eBay for museums"
Supported by a dedicated tech director, staff, and an advisory board of executives, the platform is entirely free to join and operates on a commission-based model on the value of a sale or rental.
“Our clients are able to sell idle assets, promote their projects, products and services and now, with the latest iteration and technical investments, are able to rent their projects, services and products,” says Seitz. “culturenut’s aim is to be the eBay for museums, science centers, theater and cultural.”
Giant Insects from Kokoro Exhibits
For large clients overwhelmed by their storage facilities, culturenut also offers a specialised "white glove service". This service assists institutions with evaluating what to keep, sell, or rent, while also handling logistics, storage, installation, and rigging.
This comprehensive approach has led to some massive—and unique—transactions.
“We sold nearly 20 semi-loads to a friend-client over Christmas during COVID,” Seitz recalls. “Imagine the surprise of her staff when 20 semis showed up over the holidays. She bought the Harry Potter retired assets and MythBusters exhibitions.”
Giving museums a new revenue stream
Seitz adds that culturenut has received positive feedback from the cultural and attractions community since the launch of the new marketplace:
"The many early users and the advisory board have really helped shape the functionality of the sustainability marketplace. We are most excited to hear that museums appreciate the culturenut service of helping with the daunting task of cleaning out their storage facilities to reduce storage costs and find a new revenue stream.
"Additionally, with the challenges facing the tourism and museum industry, a lot of producers are retiring projects earlier than expected, but selling them on the marketplace ensures they don't end up in landfills and gives them some return on their investments.
"It's going to be fun seeing the platform service grow with the addition of culturenut shipping, storage and rigging being introduced in 2026."
Meredith Doby of The DoSeum says: "culturenut has been a great help to us as we grow and develop as a museum. We've sold a number of exhibits on the website after gallery renovations. It is a fantastic network and a great way for museums to help each other out."
Independent curator and museum professional Alberto Acosta adds: "culturenut has been exactly what I have been looking for to lease and sell exhibitions for the greater cause of repurposing, recycling, and re-using exhibit assets.
"I've always wanted to work with EDG, culturenut, and its talented staff. It is an exceptional and profitable experience every time."
Looking to the future
As EDG celebrates two decades in the attractions industry, the team remains strongly focused on global face-to-face networking. Seitz attended 12 conferences last year and visited more than 20 countries with her board members and staff. “It’s important to be face-to-face to meet clients and move projects and the mission forward."
The industry can expect to see Seitz and the EDG team celebrating their 20th anniversary at a special party at The Franklin in Philadelphia during the AAM Annual Meeting 2026. The team will also be at Ecsite in Gothenburg and later in Prague for the opening of Sherlock Holmes.
Meanwhile, the culturenut platform will continue to scale its operations worldwide, connecting buyers and sellers to ensure the cultural sector operates more sustainably for years to come.
Earlier this year, EDG announced that Princess Diana: Love Life Legacy will make its world premiere at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.
