Javier Sainz de los Terreros, a digital communications management technician at Museo Nacional del Prado, recently earned recognition as a finalist in TikTok’s ForYouFest 2022 for educational content. The event concluded today, highlighting the role of the digital curator course within Mubag’s framework as part of the European MuseumNext initiative. The aim is to advance digital practices in small and medium-sized museums by strengthening the position of the Digital Conservator.
The Alicante Fine Arts Museum has been chosen to participate in this initiative, providing local training for museum professionals across Alicante province and neighboring towns. The objective is to elevate digital competencies in cultural heritage and in the management of historical and artistic assets.
The curriculum centers on introducing the digital curator as a specialized professional who leverages cutting-edge digital tools across multiple domains: facility management, artifact cataloging, archive management and updates, accessibility, and the broad dissemination and promotion of the museum through web channels and social networks. It also covers the creation of new formats and experiences for visitors and emphasizes customer service in both physical and digital spaces.
The training unfolded across five consecutive sessions from 24 to 28 April, addressing topics such as the digital curator, digital heritage, accessibility, preservation and dissemination of digital material, and digital communication. A total of twenty-five participants registered for course slots.
Speakers
Mubag’s director, Jorge Soler Díaz; Mª José Gadea Capó and María Gazabat Barbadomuseum techniques, along with Isabel Fernandez Marguello, provided general framing of each subject and outlined the approach taken. Additional contributions came from experts in various facets of digital heritage.
On the first day, Jaime Molina Vidal, Professor of Ancient History at the University of Alicante, presented key virtualization techniques used to evaluate and promote cultural heritage. Carolina Frias Castillejo, an honorary collaborator of the University of Alicante and the L’Albir Open Air Museum Roman Villa, demonstrated collaborative work between the Virtual Heritage Group of the University of Alicante and the L’Albir Museum. Their efforts illustrate how digital tools support research and dissemination of cultural assets in the municipality of l’Alfàs del Pi.
The second day featured Juan Antonio Sandoval, Director of the Murcia Museum of Fine Arts, who discussed the UNESCO charter on Preserving Digital Heritage and underscored the lasting value of computer-aided materials for future generations.
On the third day, Antonio Espinosa Ruiz, Head of the Municipal Historic Heritage Service and leader of the La Vila museum network, together with the scientific assistant director of the Guide to Accessibility and Inclusion in Museums and Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites, outlined practical steps for achieving authentic participation within the museum sector. They highlighted the importance of real-world engagement over performative actions.
Carla Botella Tejera, Professor of Translation and Interpretation at the University of Alicante and an audiovisual accessibility expert, explored audio description as a means to compensate for gaps in visual information for people with visual impairments or other disabilities.
On the fourth day, José Vincent Bern, Professor of Computer Technology and Computing at the University of Alicante, spoke about designing and developing digital, personalized, value-creating services to deepen cultural engagement and to help spread and protect culture through digital media.
The fifth and final day featured Gilberto Dobon, responsible for cultural communication at Alcoy City Council and involved with the IVAM CADA activities. He shared experiences from a newly created museum space that brings together three units.
The course concluded with remarks from Javier Sainz de los Terreros, who addressed current digital communication trends across sectors and how these can be applied to cultural institutions.
A member of the culture team, Juan de Dios Navarro, emphasized the importance of joining a European project to extend Mubag’s reach. He highlighted the significance of workshops, the role of cross-border collaboration, and the value of content dissemination. He underscored that active participation from other museums enhances the exchange of knowledge and practical experience between institutions. (Source attribution: Mubag project overview.)