Prospects for museum development assessed at the International Symposium "Inventing the Future"

The organization of new-age museum spaces and the advancement of future museum technologies were key themes on the second day of the Museum Congress, "Museum: A Place for Shaping the Future," held as part of the International Symposium "Inventing the Future" at the National Centre RUSSIA.

 The session was attended by Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA. She noted that the Congress was one of the events that generated the most interest among Symposium guests.

"We monitor media publications and can see that your track has become one of the most substantial, fascinating, and relevant at the Symposium. This is, I emphasize, a sincere, genuine interest. Huge thanks to the Congress moderator, Yelizaveta Likhacheva, and to all her colleagues participating in the event," stated Natalia Virtuozova.

 From November 4 to 6, Congress participants — Russian and international experts representing museums with diverse specializations — will discuss whether museums are needed in the future, what they should look like, and the role of museum spaces in shaping tomorrow’s reality.

Ahead of the Congress, a special expert survey of 50 museum staff members was conducted, identifying four likely directions for future museum development. Congress moderator and Director of the A.S. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Yelizaveta Likhacheva, shared these findings.

"Before the session, we surveyed all the speakers and asked them to assess the paths of museum evolution. Four main directions emerged from the survey. First, virtual museums will become more popular than physical ones; second, museums will shift away from traditional in-building displays and focus on new technologies; third, museums will expand beyond their buildings into open spaces; and fourth, IT technologies will become a key factor in museum progress. We can see a division in preferences, and this is what we’ll be discussing today with my colleagues," said Yelizaveta Likhacheva.

Majed al-Mansoori, Executive Director of the Museum of the Future (UAE), spoke about solutions used at the Museum.

"We had to make a series of pivotal decisions. For instance, we decided that it’s not enough just to showcase the latest technologies and make them the center of our expositions, but also to tell people stories about the future. Technology helps us create and present these stories in the most engaging ways, providing the necessary user experience to spark people’s interest in the future and convey important messages to our visitors," noted Majed al-Mansoori.

Participants of the session thoroughly discussed the form that new-age museum spaces might take: whether museums will remain a part of real urban infrastructure or entirely move into the digital world.

Real museums will not be overtaken by virtual reality, partly because of the worldwide growth of the so-called loneliness trend, said Elena Mironenko, Director General of the Atom Foundation.

"I estimated the potential for museum virtualization at only three percent, because we are globally isolated, and this trend is only increasing. The museum as a 'gathering place' is becoming almost the only place where people can come together to learn human stories," stated Elena Mironenko.

At the same time, the speaker noted that for many, virtual reality is the only accessible way to visit many museums.

Artem Konovalov, Creative Director of Looky, presented a contrasting forecast, also emphasizing that technology is an excellent way to transfer experiences from generation to generation.

 "The use of technology enables us to achieve much more, and to me, technology is a language through which we can discuss significant topics. Just as cinema once did, technology now offers a way to expand our existing universe. In reality, it serves as a bridge between generations, allowing us to view the world around us differently through the more traditional experiences of our parents with the help of technologies," said Artem Konovalov.

The Congress speakers devoted particular attention to discussing technologies in museums of the future. Sergei Sergeyev, Director of PJSC LUKOIL Museum, shared his experience in organizing high-tech expositions. Dmitry Barsenkov, CEO of the Octava Creative Industrial Cluster, emphasized that permanent expositions should by no means be overtaken by virtual museum spaces, as a museum building itself serves as a powerful tool for influencing visitors.

Summing up her colleagues' statements, Oksana Bondarenko, Director of the Moscow Transport Museum, stated that in a rapidly changing world, the museum is beginning to play one of the most crucial social roles.

"We live in a world of rapid and constant change, where, paradoxically, the museum is acquiring one of the most crucial roles. With such an overwhelming flood of information and technologies impacting us and future generations, it becomes evident that the city of the future needs a place of 'grounding' — in the best sense, an 'island of safety,' a place of emotional and intellectual peace. A Place with a capital 'P,'" concluded Oksana Bondarenko.

The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is being held from November 4 to 6. Participants include scientists, researchers, futurists, science fiction writers, and representatives from government bodies from 101 countries, including Russia, India, Italy, Iran, China, the UAE, Serbia, the USA, and France. The program features over 60 sessions across four tracks: "Future of Human," "Future of Technology," "Future of Multipolar World," and "Future of Civilizations." The program and event broadcasts are available at the website future.russia.ru.

The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is the first event of the National Centre RUSSIA, which was established on July 1, 2024, by the order of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The Centre aims to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens. The work of the Centre involves federal authorities, state companies, corporations, and regions.