The project presentation will focus on new visitor experiences developed by the Galata Sea and Migration Museum (Mu.MA) in Genoa (Italy) in partnership with ETT S.p.A. ICT company.
This collaboration has already produced several permanent exhibitions, where new technologies better “explain the message” that the museum wants to impart. The first was the “Nazario Sauro” pre-show, an exhibition that reveals life in a submarine. Then came the Memories and Migration (MEM) section, which tells the history of emigration from, and immigration to, Italy by presenting real migrant stories. On a fully recreated 17th century Genoese galley, visitors enjoy an interactive experience with the “crew”. The new Christopher Columbus section has portraits and video-audio renditions of his documents in various languages.
These exhibitions integrate original content with innovative solutions such as high-resolution monitors, interactive touch-screen interfaces, 3D reconstructions, proximity sensors, gaming simulations, augmented reality applications and interactive projections with on-screen actors; ensuring complete visitor immersion, and promoting and renewing interest and involvement. The museum aims to revitalise communication with visitors, transforming them from passive to active through an “immersive” experience. This approach is based on the concepts of “knowing through doing” and “recognise by touching”, creating synergy with gallery artwork and environments, so that each age, academic and social group (from school children through to students, adults, parents and pensioners) will dynamically relate to the immersive visitor experience. Galata Museum’s renewal action was carried out creating meticulous cooperation between museum curators (original content and context) and ETT (experts in the fields of ICT interactivity and museology). This collaboration works when the two main objectives are satisfied: 1) enhancement of inherent value of content and context; 2) rapid return on investment through substantial visitor growth - especially true now that central government funding is progressively less.
