Last week, we had the pleasure of attending Museum Tech 2025 at London’s Barbican Centre - a day packed with inspiring speakers, thought-provoking discussions, and valuable insights into how museums are using digital tools to shape the future of their work.
Organised by the Museums Association, the event brought together museum professionals, digital strategists, and technology providers for a full-day programme exploring the evolving role of technology in the cultural sector. From immersive storytelling to ethical AI, the sessions sparked vital conversations around how digital practices can be embedded into strategic planning, engagement, and operations across museums of all sizes.
After a warm welcome and some morning networking (fueled by tea, coffee, and great conversations), the day officially kicked off with opening remarks from Alyson Webb, Co-Founder of Frankly, Green + Webb, who chaired the event. She set the scene for a day centred around digital confidence, literacy, and creativity.
The first session transported us into the virtual world with Neil McDonnell and Pauline Mackay from the University of Glasgow, who introduced the Museums in the Metaverse project. This pioneering platform offers museum professionals the tools to create immersive virtual museums using XR (Extended Reality). Their talk was a fascinating glimpse into how museums might reimagine visitor experiences in digital spaces.
Following that, the conversation shifted towards practical delivery with a panel exploring how smaller museums can harness digital tools—even with limited resources. The panel, featuring voices from The Charleston Trust, Manchester Jewish Museum, and the Migration Museum, shared real-world examples of using CRMs, social media strategies, and audience insights to drive engagement and extend their reach.
Later in the day, a second panel dove deeper into strategic thinking. Leaders from institutions including the London Museum, The National Gallery, and Headland Design discussed where project funding is going and how to bridge the gap between online and in-person experiences. This session reinforced the importance of long-term planning and digital infrastructure, no matter the size or scope of a museum’s offering.
The topic of AI was a highlight of the afternoon, with a captivating in-conversation session between Oonagh Murphy of Goldsmiths and Birgitte Aga from MUNCH Museum in Oslo. Together, they unpacked what it means to use AI responsibly in museum settings, showcasing an interactive experience called New Snow, which allows visitors to creatively engage with collections. Their approach to values-led innovation was both refreshing and practical.
We also heard from Harmeet Chagger-Khan, who shared best practices from The Space’s Digital Accessibility Toolkit, helping museums think proactively about inclusive design and widening access from the outset of any digital project. And finally, Jo Walton from the Sussex Digital Humanities Lab reminded us that environmental impact must be part of our digital conversations, highlighting how museums can reduce their digital carbon footprint through more sustainable digital practices.
Museum Tech 2025 was more than just a showcase of new tech - it was a rallying call for the sector to think strategically, ethically, and creatively about how digital can serve wider museum goals, from access and learning to innovation and sustainability.
If you missed Museum Tech 2025 - or if you're eager to continue exploring innovations in the museum sector - there are two significant events hosted by the Museums Association that you might consider:
Scheduled for 2 July 2025 at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, this event will delve into the latest approaches and trends in collections documentation. Discussions will cover technological developments like AI in sharing collection knowledge, engaging volunteers and diverse communities, and connecting audiences with collections through their histories. It's an essential gathering for professionals involved in collections audits, management, access, and audience engagement. See more.
Taking place from 7–9 October 2025 at St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff, this conference will focus on the concept of "perthyn," the Welsh word for belonging. It aims to explore how museums can foster community, solidarity, and inclusivity, addressing global challenges and promoting social and climate justice. Attendees can look forward to inspiring practices from the UK and internationally, emphasizing ethical and equitable collaborations with communities. See more.
Our PastView platform can help museums bring their digitised collections to life with features such as advanced search, metadata tagging, 3D object viewing, and even Virtual Reality Tours. Whether you're developing digital exhibitions, enhancing online access and discoverability, or creating immersive visitor experiences, PastView is designed to help you unlock the full potential of your archives and collections.
We thoroughly enjoyed attending Museum Tech 2025 - and we look forward to the next two upcoming events on 2nd July, and 7th-9th October 2025.