Digital Transformation in Museums: How to Avoid Drowning in Digital and Preserve the Soul

11:10 — 12:40 (May 23)
New Treryakov Gallery
Small Hall

#museum_technologies


Panel Discussion

Digitalization, as an integral part of societal development, has become a defining characteristic of museums seeking to retain their existing audiences while attracting new ones.
Today’s visitors, whose preferences evolve alongside technological advancements, might perceive museums lacking interactive zones and captivating visual effects as a waste of time. Yet cultural institutions cannot — and should not — simply fill their galleries with screens and talking robots solely for the sake of appearing technologically advanced.
For technology to truly serve as a new medium for audience engagement rather than a distracting gimmick overshadowing the essence of exhibitions, we must identify and preserve that delicate boundary between meaningful content and a superficial spectacle.

• What type of digital transformation should established museums prioritize first: internal systems or visitor-facing technologies?
• How can museums recognize when technology becomes overwhelming in their specific space?
• Which technologies are already oversaturated in the market, and where do critical gaps remain?

Speakers:
Lena Misakyan, Senior Researcher, Aram Khachaturian House-Museum; Member of ICOM Armenia Council