A new training program for museums and cultural sector professionals
The museum world is undergoing a profound transformation, where accessibility, sustainability, and innovation are becoming increasingly central to meeting the needs of an evolving audience. In this context, We Exhibit announces the launch of a dedicated training area with tailored programs designed for those working in the cultural sector, aimed at providing practical tools and strategic skills to tackle new challenges.
The reasons
Contemporary museums are facing challenges that require continuous updates and operational skills aligned with global developments, debates, and issues. Drawing on years of experience with Italian and international museums and organizations, We Exhibit offers innovative and practical programs. The approach is "hands-on," allowing participants to directly experiment with methods, skills, and tools, while interacting with recognized professionals. Emphasis on design and the process accompanying the development of solutions is considered the foundational premise of each program, starting with a critical understanding of content and perspectives. The ultimate goal is to improve museum skills, promoting greater awareness and cohesion. The training is aimed at both individuals and organizations.
Topics
These topics offer an opportunity to explore what's happening in the sector, with courses that delve into current and emerging trends in the international museum debate.
Among the upcoming courses are:
- Accessible Exhibit Design: Visitors' itineraries must ensure the highest quality experience for as many people as possible. This goal can be achieved by adopting a set of requirements that maximize clarity, usability, and also aesthetics.
- Disruptive Interpretation: Current interpretive methods challenge established paradigms to broaden the participation of the target audience. Starting with a series of questions about the function and impact of museum texts, the course will analyze the most effective strategies to promote audience engagement.
- Lighting Design: Lighting is a fundamental element of exhibit design, as it affects the perception of artworks and the use of spaces. The course teaches how to design lighting systems that are functional, sustainable, and capable of enhancing the displayed works.
- Visitor Experience Design: Focused on analyzing visitor behavior and how museum design can improve the visitor experience, this course provides tools to map the visitor journey, identifying critical points and opportunities to increase audience engagement and satisfaction.
- Queering the Museum: A program that explores how museums apply perspectives and approaches from gender and queer studies. It discusses ways to make exhibitions more accessible and representative, engaging LGBTQ+ associations and activist experiences. The aim is to challenge dominant narratives and propose interpretive strategies that naturally integrate diverse emotional and sexual experiences.
These courses promote innovation, sustainability, and creative solutions, offering ways to improve accessibility and the visitor experience, even with limited resources.
Methodology
We Exhibit's courses alternate between theory and practice, with the goal of providing skills that are useful in daily work and design. By involving recognized professionals and experts, the training programs aim to provide a solid theoretical foundation to systematize disciplinary complexities. This introduction lays the groundwork for workshops that balance the skills learned with the experience of each participant, facilitating active exchange. The courses also offer convivial opportunities for discussion, as well as the chance to engage with different organizations during in-person sessions, held in the unique setting of Venice.
The contribution of We Exhibit
We Exhibit adopts a practical and innovative approach to training, combining theory and practice to make both professionals and the institutions they work for more dynamic, accessible, and capable of addressing contemporary challenges. A distinctive feature is the workshop-based nature of the courses: participants engage in exercises related to real or simulated projects, guided by professionals and experts. In courses aimed at institutions, in addition to the training, We Exhibit integrates consultancy to facilitate medium- to long-term operational changes, helping to apply the knowledge and skills learned to daily practice.
This setup reflects We Exhibit's philosophy, which firmly believes that learning happens through direct experience.
Proposals for organisations
We Exhibit offers customizable training packages for museums, combining training and consultancy to promote medium- to long-term operational changes. These packages include training modules, workshops, online lessons, and personalized consultancy, adaptable to the specific needs of each institution. The offering is flexible and modular, allowing organizations to select courses based on their goals. The packages can be delivered in person or online, engaging staff and fostering internal cohesion. Post-course consultancy may involve revising museum policies and adopting international standards.
