Digital exhibitions in focus: Gothaer Talks invite discussion!

Digital exhibitions in focus: Gothaer Talks invite discussion!

On Wednesday, April 23rd, the Gotha Research Library at the University of Erfurt invites you to the “Gotha Library Discussions”. This event starts at 6:15 p.m. and will be held online. The focus is on new research approaches to the typology and reception of digital exhibition experiences. Today, digital exhibitions represent an independent format for cultural mediation and raise a variety of questions about how visitors perceive them.

The University of Erfurt emphasizes that the event offers insights into a research project by the Professorship of Linguistics at Chemnitz University of Technology. The project entitled “Digital Exhibitions – From Typology to Reception Perspective” has been active since 2022 and is funded by the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism. A central element of the current research phase is an eye tracking study that investigates the reception of a digital exhibition prototype.

Research and methodology

The project aims to analyze the design and user-friendliness of digital exhibitions. Among other things, questions about the optimal presentation, arrangement and explanation of exhibits are addressed. This research also examines the extent to which digital formats can generate similar learning effects as physical exhibitions.

The methodology includes a mixed methods approach that combines empirical studies and eye tracking studies. This comprehensive approach is intended to help develop specific design formats and formulate recommendations for the further development of digital exhibitions. The current focus is also on finding participants for the eye tracking study, which is being carried out in a laboratory on the Reichenhainer Straße campus and offers a remuneration of ten euros. Interested test subjects can contact Julia Pfeiffer or Dr. Martin Siefkes.

Digital cultural mediation in Bavaria

The context of digital exhibitions and cultural mediation is also influenced by the Bavarian State Minister for Science and Art clearly. Markus Blume emphasizes the importance of combining art and digitalization, with the aim of making art always barrier-free accessible for everyone. Bavaria is relying on a digital innovation boost in the art and culture scene and is supporting cultural institutions in their digital transformation.

The “culture.digital.strategy” program is the successor to “culture.digital.mediation” and is intended to further develop and professionally implement the digital experiments launched in the last two years. The funding is intended to support not only the museum and library sector, but also theaters and other cultural institutions.

In summary, the Gotha library discussions illustrate the ongoing engagement with digital formats in cultural education. With the publication of the digital exhibition “The Orient in Gotha” on June 25, 2025, practical knowledge from the research project will also be used.

For anyone who would like to attend the event, here is the one Link to participate.