New chapter, new perspectives

Cornelia Schneider • oct 27, 2022

Fall has started, and nature is wrapping everything around us in a colourful jacket. The days are getting colder, and we begin to look for cozy, indoor activities since we are still full of energy after a bustling summer. A summer in which we could explore, engage and enjoy limitless again!

Last month I opened a wardrobe full of new, colourful adventures. I could not identify more with the flow of fall. My own Narnia story had begun; like the movie, I've dived into immersive and magnificent stories. I walked across museums, historic websites and cultural experiences to challenge me to broaden my horizon. Only this time, I look at some details differently, and I consciously dwell on the art of storytelling.

In the following paragraphs, I'd like to take you with me through some audio-storytelling sparks that left me in awe. Working with such creative museum partners who apply exciting ways to get messages across is a real privilege. I feel treated that this is only the beginning of my journey of soaking up, helping, and advising on inspiring forms of storytelling.

The cultural sector is at a pivot point in so many ways. This month's 'Museumcongres' in Rotterdam presented that the sector is still recovering from the long covid draught. They can still only dream of the old visitor numbers, but on the other hand, they are investing in digitalisation. They're increasingly focusing on sustainability and inclusion and are looking for new stories to tell to a broader audience. Focusing on the latter, our partner Verzetsmuseum (Resistance Museum) Amsterdam held a beautiful workshop about accessibility. We've been working closely with them in the past years to help them develop a tailor-made tour focusing on the needs of deaf/hearing-impaired and blind/visual-impaired persons. We've developed an app to support sign language and added some haptic touches to it. This group of visitors is led by a different sensory stimulus. With some small adjustments the Verzetsmuseum (Resistance Museum) created a unique experience for them. The museum is pioneering with the suitable lighting routes, the haptic elements, the dismissing of unnecessary distractions, like smells or hard sounds, offering them the freedom of movement, and they're adding touching points. I invite you to look at this newly designed exhibition from 3 December onwards!

A masked person during the pandemic listening to a Podcatcher in empty looking museum room with several artworks displayed

Talking about challenges: This year, the Hermitage Amsterdam had to deal with an unexpected, completely new dimension of finding practical & creative solutions. After the museum opened post-covid, the war in Ukraine started (questioning the world's relations with Russia). Political developments are required to break the valued and thoughtfully established partnership with the famous State Hermitage Museum. Within a few days, all paintings borrowed from the sister museum were picked-up or shipped back to St. Petersburg, leaving Hermitage Amsterdam empty. Weeks of turmoil followed, resulting in a never seen exhibition of one masterpiece painting only. This one was borrowed as a sign of support by another Amsterdam museum. Johannes Vermeer's Milkmaid (Het Melkmeisje) from the Rijksmuseum was the first art piece displayed after re-opening. Just a small painting in the room, but a big leap of information for all visitors – who were (audio)guided through technical details, color choices, music, and scents of that time. Such an incredible approach! Since the re-re-opening, the Hermitage keeps surprising with new, spectacular art stories. Love Stories – Art, Passion, and Tragedy is currently on display. Join in with a music audio tour, the romantic-steamy vibes of the young adult tour, or the general fact tour – there is something for all visitors.

Multiple small groups of visitors walking through a museum whilst looking at paintings

Lastly, the Natural History (Natuurhistorisch) Museum Rotterdam is taking on some responsibility to challenge its visitors' perception of what is happening worldwide. The museum stays true to her DNA and lets the animals speak about their take. They tell us what is happening around us, discuss modern societal concepts, and focus on current affairs. Topics such as immigration, housing crisis, racism, mindfulness, and social distancing are being addressed in their cute and edgy monologues. For example, you will encounter a seahorse talking about normalising the man's role as a pregnant father. Or you will be shown a sloth, criticising the pace of life and showing off her sustainable approach of energy under the motto: 'Slowness is power, breath in consciously and go.'

These animal speeches, written by 25 famous authors, are hilarious and touching. With the Podcatcher in my ear, I looked around the exhibition room, soaking up the visitors' smiles popping up on their faces. An older man passed me when listening to the stork raging about overpopulation. "This bird has such a good story, '' he said. At that moment, I realised that we're truly touching people and spreading relevant messages.

All these developments feel like the beginning of a new chapter, and I cannot wait to discover more of my new cultural Narnia world!