Storifying An Augmented Future For Museums Erasmus Project

Project Title

Storifying An Augmented Future For Museums

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Partnerships for Creativity

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Creativity and culture; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

As the New European Agenda for Culture highlights, an embrace of technological tools and innovative approaches is needed to revitalize and bring about a much-needed evolution to the cultural sector. Museums as a key pillar of the Cultural Sector which is of immense importance for the EU as a key representation and promoter of its cultural heritage as well as a pivotal contributor to the Union’s economy and growth, need to take steps towards the digitisation of their workings and to reshape the way they engage their visitors. These realities and needs have been apparent for many years but have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic with its wide-ranging effect on all aspects of life that have, among others, accentuated the need for digital transition of organizations, institutions and industries.

Hence, museums and cultural foundations need to adopt innovative technologies to reshape the way their workings are conducted elevating the experience they offer to their audience and enhance their capacity to attract and engage younger generations.

The adoption of augmented reality and virtual reality technology, is used among others, to introduce interactive storytelling for the presentation of the collections of the museums, presents a unique and engaging prospect for the new era. Therefore, museums need to make considerable efforts to introduce AR and VR tools and applications in their operations as well as train their existing and prospective staff to be able to utilize them. Thus, MuseumAR puts forward a structured plan involving a set of actions and the development of a concerted set of outputs to have a concrete contribution to supporting this process. To recognise the rise of digital technologies as one of the challenges currently facing contemporary museums means stepping back to reflect upon how to orchestrate the acquisition of new knowledge, competences and mindsets (White 2016; Gainon-Court and Vuillaume 2016; Filipe and Camacho 2018; Price and Dafydd). In this regard, the professional development of the main stakeholders (museum professionals, educators, young graduates and artists etc.) is an unresolved issue of supporting the digital transformation of museums (An Action Plan for Museum Workforce).

To meet the abovementioned needs, MuseumARs objectives are to:

•Introduce adult educators and museum professionals to the potential of AR as a storytelling tool and help them develop the capacity to train professionals and young graduates in utilizing it
•Build synergies between education and culture facilitated by new technologies
•Build capacity in museum employees and young graduates to collaborate with technology experts in a manner that will revamp the way these institutions operate and engage their visitors
•Empower museums and cultural institutions to adopt innovative technological tools to engage their audience and present their collection

To meet these objectives, the MuseumAR project will develop the following:

IO1: Augmented Reality and Learning in Museums Curriculum and Training Material
IO2: A Digital Booklet with Augment Reality Stories
IO3: MOOC for promoting digital cultural heritage

Specifically, MuseumAR will design and develop among others a storytelling AR experience that can be tested and emulated by museums across the EU as well as learning material that can be utilized by museums and adult learning institutions to train their staff as well as young professionals interested in pursuing a career in the sector. Said learning material will support them in developing the knowledge and skills to both create and AR storytelling applications in museums. AR combines real and virtual worlds, supplementing the real world with computer-generated virtual objects in real-time (RDA. Budiman, “Developing learning media based on AR (AR) to improve learning motivation).

By introducing AR technology in their workings, museums can provide a richer and more engaging experience to their visitors, especially those of younger age. Introducing AR storytelling will allow them to connect with their guests and offer them a unique experience that transcends them through the stories and different perspectives illuminated by their artefacts. Thus, such a step will help museums to revolutionize the experience they offer and open up new prospects both for them as institutions and as a sector as a whole. A unique opportunity lies before them as the use of AR has become more accessible as it no longer requires specialised equipment and may easily be used on mobile devices (M. Akçayır and G. Akçayır, “Advantages and challenges associated with AR for education).

The MuseumAR consortium includes 6 partner organisations from 4 countries (4 museums, cultural foundations and 2 adult education organisations). By cooperating in a transnational project, project partners will be able to develop innovative outputs that can contribute to job creation, sustainable development and social inclusion through arts.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 202753 Eur

Project Coordinator

COSTAS & RITA SEVERIS FOUNDATION & Country: CY

Project Partners

• ELLINIKO PAIDIKO MOUSEIO
• Alchemilla Società cooperativa sociale
• HANDS ON! INTERNATIONALE VEREINIGUNG FUR KINDER IN MUSEEN
• KENTRO MERIMNAS OIKOGENEIAS KAI PAIDIOU
• CENTRE FOR ADVANCEMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY LTD-CARDET