Museums in the Digital Age

The digital wave is sweeping through every sphere, and it is entering museums. Some institutions were pioneers and are now inseparable from this movement; others are still struggling to integrate the recent technological shift. The Société des musées du Québec (SMQ) wanted to equip its members through the forum Museums in the Digital Age, held on June 11 and 12 at the Musée McCord and the Société des artstechnologiques.

As a true space for reflection and exchange, the event raised highly relevant questions. As digital technology transforms museum practices and renews approaches, are we able to fully assess its impact? How do virtual collections, mobile technologies, web platforms, social networks and other tools contribute to this renewal? What should we

to Michel Perron, director general of the SMQ, the idea is to stimulate the use of digital culture and the transition toward it in museums of every size and mission. It needs to be demystified, because many people think it is inaccessible because of its complexity or the required budget. It is a revolution and one can feel its effervescence. Museums are major mediators of content and can use digital tools to reach new audiences or retain existing ones by broadening their fields of activity. To make this shift in a meaningful way, prejudices must be broken down

few studies had been conducted on the integration of digital technology into museums. The forum guided and supported a network of more than 300 members through workshops and discussions: presentations of digital achievements, the question of whether digital technology is revolutionizing museums, access to content and collections, dissemination and mediation of content, and relationships with audiences.

Moderated by Jean-Hugues Roy, professor at theÉcole des médias, the event welcomed specialists from overseas: Nancy Proctor, deputy directorof digital experience at the Baltimore Museum of Art and co-chair of the international Museums and the Web event; GaëlleLesaffre, independent researchofficer associated with the Centre Norbert Elias; Sébastien Magrofrom the Musée du quai Branly; and Samuel Bausson from the complex Les Champs libres.

Mr.Perron acknowledged that there is ground to make up. Québec has great creative potential, an international reputation in museology and a good position, especially because of its concern for communication with the public. The digital community is alive, but underfunding slows its momentum. An event like this helps break with the current gloom and gives museums the opportunity to make the right choices by developing digital resources and strategies in line with their missions. The forum Museums in the Digital Age will have follow-up activities: a publication project is in the air, and the SMQ intends to repeat the experience in the future.