Innovative collaboration for local attraction.
The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust is taking part in Museomix, a groundbreaking international museum collaboration. For three intensive days, 8th-10th November, a huge pool of expertise and inspiration is brought together to help co-create and test new ways of approaching exhibitions and developing new museum experiences. During the event museum professionals, designers, web-coders, hackers, digital technology experts, art lovers, education experts and museum fans will work in teams to develop ten prototypes that will be created and tested during the event. Participants are given a blank canvas to come up with their own innovations.
Museomix creates an environment that allows participants to imagine, design and test new ways of working in museums and develop innovations that can be adopted not only by the host organisation but by museums across the world, helping them to become more open, networked and responsive to the communities around them.
The first Museomix took place in France in 2011 and since then the concept has evolved and this year events will take place at locations in France, Quebec and at Ironbridge in the UK.
During the event in Ironbridge, not only do the teams have the resources of a state of the art FabLab (Fabrication Laboratory), complete with 3D printers, a laser cutter, electronics equipment and a moulding machine to help create prototypes but there is also a worldwide community that can be called upon to guide the development process and help solve problems.
Anna Brennand, chief executive of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust commented: “For three hundred years the Ironbridge Gorge has been at the cutting edge of technology and famous for its innovative approach to product development. Museomix continues this proud tradition.
“The Trustees, volunteers and staff are looking forward to seeing the prototypes developed during the event, which will offer new ways of experiencing our museums. As we will give a blank canvas to the teams, we do not know whether these innovations will be web-based, new methods of interpretation for our current exhibitions or brand new exhibits. That is the joy of Museomix, it is a journey into the unknown.”
The Museum is looking for applications from individual participants who would like to be a part of this inspiring event and from companies who feel that they could support the project with relevant technology, products and expertise. Interested parties should contact Mar Dixon, 07800 539065, museomixuk@gmail.com, @MuseomixUK or visit http://www.museomix.org/localisation/shropshire-2013/