Imagining new exhibition and interaction formats with cultural heritage
In immersive environments, we are no longer constrained by the physical limitations of exhibition rooms that determine what can and cannot be shown. We can forgo the rules of gravity or measures that regulate what can and cannot be touched. In this sense, eXtended Reality (XR) presents an exciting opportunity to rethink curatorial practices and the ways that audiences can engage with heritage collections. At Immersive Tech Week 2024 in Rotterdam, with roughly 60 people gathered around tables covered in sticky notes and playful illustrations, we collectively imagined new exhibition and interaction formats with cultural heritage that go beyond the popular digital twin and virtual museum formats.
Immersive Tech Week, a vibrant multi-day festival celebrating all things XR, spanned three full days (4-6 December) filled with talks, round tables, workshops, immersive experiences, and more. Our partners at NISV were eager to return to Rotterdam to contribute to the dynamic program. Together, Gabrielle Aguilar, Alina Goldman, and Rasa Bocyte hosted the workshop Beyond Virtual Museums, inviting participants to envision XR experiences with cultural heritage through the lens of three guiding principles: unexpected places, unconventional formats, and surprising collaborations.
The workshop drew a diverse group of participants, including designers, XR professionals, government officials, librarians, and even skeptics of XR technology. This broad mix of perspectives fostered rich discussions and playful brainstorming.
While the goal for the workshop was for imaginations to run wild with the array of diverse technological possibilities that XR can afford, the groups also kept in mind the barriers that may prevent organizations of various sizes and capacities from integrating such immersive experiences into their long-term audience engagement strategies. Five groups, therefore, began from a fictional scenario that included its own unique goals and challenges.
After less than an hour of collaborative sketching and ideation activities, the groups were ready to pitch their work. Their ideas showcased an impressive range of experiences and creativity, highlighting the potential of immersive technology to go beyond current popular trends and the community’s strong desire to engage in new forms of immersion:
- An AR-based guerrilla marketing campaign that brings the collection of a digital-only museum to bus stops, allowing the local community to explore contemporary queer heritage (photographs, oral histories, and memorabilia from European protests and events) in physical spaces.
- An MR experience where participants collaborate to build and maintain a protective dike in the Netherlands, navigating historical environmental challenges through interactive play and teamwork while learning about the country’s rich history of flood control and land reclamation techniques.
- An AR experience hosted across multiple restaurants in the Balkans, bringing participants together around the region’s shared intangible heritage (traditional music, crafts, and cuisine). It offers a multi-sensory experience where participants can see, touch, listen, and taste.
- An MR exhibition in a small Slovak town that blends old and new technologies to retell local folklore. Using nostalgic tools like old computers and games, it offers immersive, interactive experiences designed to engage audiences of all digital literacy levels.
- An AR experience inviting residents of a historic, rapidly gentrifying Rotterdam neighbourhood to reconnect with 100 years of its social and architectural history while sharing their unique cultural perspectives and languages tied to these stories.
A panel of surprise guest judges determined that all of the ideas were a 10/10!
The guiding principles of this workshop are being developed as part of an ongoing investigation in the framework of TRANSMIXR, a Horizon Europe innovation project. This interdisciplinary initiative brings together researchers, practitioners, and industry experts to explore meaningful applications of XR across diverse application areas including cultural heritage. Insights from the workshop play a role in shaping our approach, offering valuable insights that inform our research and development processes. We look forward to building on the momentum of this workshop, hosting future events that inspire creativity and collaboration, and continuing to share insights that push the boundaries of what’s possible with XR in cultural heritage.
All photos provided by Philine Kreuzer.
Authors: Gabrielle Aguilar, Alina Goldman, and Rasa Bocyte from NISV.