Pisa, Italy

LEARN-SMA 2023. Words and Museums. The Content, Design, and Function of Textual Communication

The one-week intensive course is hosted by the museums of art, technology, and the natural sciences of the University of Pisa (Sistema Museale di Ateneo – SMA).
The course addresses the strategies and methods of communication inside a museum, focusing on the content, design, and technologies of labels and educational panels. How to balance information and simplicity? What information does an object require in order to be fully understood and appreciated? When is a text effective? How can we construct lengthier historical or geographical narratives? What are the current design standards for educational materials inside a museum? What may new technologies offer in order to provide a rich/individual experience, tailored to diverse audiences and types of visits? These and related questions will be discussed by experienced instructors from a variety of backgrounds, including archaeologists, art historians, curators, exhibition designers, developers of digital/virtual educational tools, experts of communication for children, the neurodiverse public, and visitors with limited vision or hearing abilities.

The school will be entirely held online, via Microsoft Teams.

Course leader

Prof. Anna Anguissola

Target group

Museum professionals, advanced students of all disciplines interested in a career as a curator

Course aim

The aim of the course is to provide participants with the main notions about the production and display of texts in museums, as well as an overview of the most up-to-date research in museum communication and technologies.
Classes engage participants both at the theoretical and empirical level, so that participants may develop broader awareness of the topic, as well as practical skills and competencies.
The course include experiences from collections in a variety of fields: art history, science and technology, and the natural sciences.

Fee info

EUR 250: tuition fees

Scholarships

Available. Please contact the course coordinator