After the end of the Corona crisis, cultural institutions should maintain their digital progress. “If the museums reopen permanently after the pandemic, we must not cut back what has been invested and developed in the digital sector,” said the President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, Hermann Parzinger, of the German Press Agency in Berlin. “New tasks have arisen here, and everyone has seen the potential, which is also an enormous advertisement for museums.”

New digital communication formats The foundation, one of the largest international cultural institutions, includes the Berlin State Museums with 15 collections at 19 locations. The foundation is already in charge of the nationwide Museum4Punkt0 project, which is about the development of new digital communication formats. The corona crisis promoted this. “There has been an enormous boost for the digital offerings of museums and their collections.”

Parzinger now wants to secure progress. “In the social media area we have to ensure sustainability, which raises the question of resources,” he said. “We need a permanent and well-positioned team.” Digital offers could never replace the aura of the original. Museums would therefore always remain attractive. “The secret to success lies in the complementary addition, in the combination of the experience of the original and the digital mediation offers.”

Guided tours by smartphone Parzinger referred to examples. There are digital tours by curators through their museums and exhibitions on Instagram, often filmed only with a smartphone. “That was enormously successful and reached a young audience in particular.” The State Museums’ Instagram channel was “incredibly well received” because it was very lively and innovative. “You can do a lot, even with simple technical means. The formats should enable participation. Then they will be accepted even better.”

The crisis has also left its mark on the State Museums. “Without the corona pandemic, it would have been a pretty successful year for us, especially with the special exhibitions such as those on the Germanic peoples or Belgian symbolism. In the few weeks this year was open, we had over a million visitors “said Parzinger.

(mon)