Imagine Exhibitions, a leader in worldwide travelling exhibitions and entertainment, is celebrating 15 years of providing unforgettable experiences to audiences worldwide.
During this time, Imagine Exhibitions has produced 56 different exhibitions. Its shows have toured to 354 locations in 193 cities and more than 55 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. These exhibitions have been visited by 26 million people globally, which positions Imagine Exhibitions as the largest touring exhibition firm offering venue and consultancy services in the world.
Tom Zaller, president and CEO of Imagine Exhibitions, says: “Our motivation stems from wanting to tell great stories and creating unforgettable experiences for our visitors. Our journey so far has been extraordinary, and our upcoming projects are positioned to elevate Imagine to new heights for visitors worldwide.”
Global partnerships
One of Imagine Exhibitions’ first projects saw Zaller develop the overall vision for the ArtScience Museum in Singapore, where he was later appointed founding director. Since then, the firm has evolved to offer hundreds of exhibitions, as well as permanent builds, such as the ArtScience Museum project.
These exhibitions cover a wide range of topics, such as science and technology, fine art, history, and popular culture. The firm stands out from its competitors thanks to its rich storytelling, excellent craftsmanship, meticulous attention to detail, elegant design, and interactive technology that improves the visitor experience.
During the past 15 years, Imagine Exhibitions has produced and operated shows with globally renowned brands, including Lionsgate for Hunger Games: The Exhibition, NBCU International for Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, Rovio for Angry Birds Universe: The Art & Science Behind a Global Phenomenon, Universal Brand Development for Jurassic World: The Exhibition, and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment for Harry Potter: The Exhibition.
Additionally, it has signed long-term agreements with the renowned artists Sean Kenney, who uses Lego bricks to create remarkable sculptures, and Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist who uses recycled materials to create large-scale, folk-inspired sculptures. It has also partnered with Universcience, a French institution and one of the largest science centres in Europe, and Scitech, a leading science centre in Australia.
Inventive exhibitions
The Imagine Exhibitions team showed resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite having just twelve workers. Under Zaller’s direction, the small group developed the first-ever Dinosaur parking lot shows, which included enormous animatronic dinosaurs in a safari setting.
In addition to providing enjoyment during a trying time, this innovative and safe drive-through strategy was crucial to the company’s survival and demonstrated Imagine’s flexibility and inventiveness.
Following the pandemic, Imagine Exhibitions staged Harry Potter: The Exhibition‘s global debut at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia in February 2022. This served as the launch venue for a worldwide tour.
During its seven-month run, the exhibition brought over 522,000 visitors to Philadelphia from all over the globe, including Australia, Japan, and Thailand. Attendance at the exhibition set a new record for visitor numbers and was a major contributor to the museum’s post-pandemic recovery. In addition, this success had a wider impact on tourism across the city.
More than two million people have been enchanted by Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which has gone on to show at a further seven locations across three continents. Host cities have included Atlanta, Georgia; Vienna, Austria; Paris, France; New York, US; Barcelona, Spain; and Macao, China. The exhibition is set to open shortly in Munich, Germany, with additional venues planned.
and lounge atmosphere where visitors can enjoy their favourite cocktail while solving riddles.
Zaller is a seasoned Las Vegas professional and in 2022, inaugurated The Cabinet of Curiosities and The Lock at Horseshoe Las Vegas, Imagine Exhibition’s first permanent bar, lounge and speakeasy. The firm’s other major projects in Las Vegas include Dino Safari: A Walk Thru Adventure, REAL BODIES, and Discovering King Tut’s Tomb.
Debbie Donohue, COO and VP of sales of Imagine Exhibitions, shares: “Hundreds of leading institutions, museums, gardens, zoos, aquariums, integrated resorts and cultural organizations look to Imagine to bring world-class exhibitions that drive visitor attendance to their institution while focusing on content that supports their mission.
“But what’s been really amazing has been working with Tom for 15 years, working with hundreds of amazing clients and partners worldwide, and our amazing team. I’m looking forward to what the future brings at Imagine.”
World-leading immersive experiences
Imagine Exhibitions specialises in exhibition design, production, marketing, sales, and operations. It serves a range of clients, including non-traditional entertainment venues. The firm’s dedication to excellence and innovation attracts top leaders in the industry. Since 2009, Imagine Exhibitions has grown from a few team members to over a hundred employees around the world, from Boston to Barcelona to Buenos Aires. It is now headquartered in Atlanta, with offices in Las Vegas.
The firm has expanded its offering with the introduction of a retail division that makes exclusive products for special exhibitions. It has also enhanced its consulting services by recruiting specialists who together offer over 30 years of expertise.
Zaller explains: “We invest in our people and collaborate with exceptionally talented individuals to bring out the very best. I’m humbled to be where we are today. Looking forward, we will focus on our growth across all areas of the business so that we can continue to bring our clients and partners the world’s best immersive experiences.”
Imagine Exhibitions is dedicated to expanding the realm of immersive experiences, and in the upcoming months, the company will reveal fresh and innovative projects that are currently under production.
Earlier this month, Imagine Exhibitions, announced the next iteration in its partnership with renowned Danish artist and sculptor, Thomas Dambo. Dambo will create a new outdoor touring exhibition which will show across Europe, North America, and beyond.
