MUTEC 2022

What characterizes sustainable technologies that museums and other cultural institutions can use to make their exhibits more tangible? The concepts developed during the coronavirus pandemic can be put to the test in Leipzig from 24 to
26. November 2022 at MUTEC, the trade fair for museum and exhibition technology, to test their suitability

A cooperation between MUTEC and ICOM Germany was agreed in 2019. Now it can finally be realized. As the largest forum for museum professionals in Germany and Europe, ICOM is primarily dedicated to the promotion of young scientists, museum-related specialist information and the international exchange of museum professionals. At the MUTEC exhibition, these and other interested parties can find out about areas such as buildings and technology, exhibition design and media presentation, as well as trends in visitor services or collection and cultural operations management. Offers for archives, depots and libraries are also aimed at specialists in these areas. The topic of accessibility is particularly well represented on a joint stand by the companies yomma and inkl. design from Berlin and Laville Braille from Paris. yomma offers high-quality sign language translation services and sign language courses. inkl. design designs inclusion with products and services, strategic consulting and barrier-free wayfinding systems. Laville Braille aims to make it easier to explore the world haptically with tactile images, Braille and relief prints.

MUTEC offers cross-sector ideas for museums, libraries, archives and other cultural institutions, as you can see here in the video:

Among the exhibitors in the other areas are companies such as Axess, Axiell, ERCO Leuchten, heddier electronic, MEDER CommTech, Robotron Datenbank-Software and Zeutschel. They will be joined by the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK) and the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (HTW). “MUTEC veteran” AlfaVision is coming from Belgium. The company is known for developing museum concepts and scenographies. Ljusdesign Gobo & Highlight A/S (Denmark) will be represented for the second time, focusing on innovative lighting designs and solutions with sustainable materials. The three French companies include SPX-Lighting, a producer of high-performance light projectors specially designed for use in museums. Arenametrix is an omni-channel marketing platform that provides ideas for museums that want to better reach their target groups. Ask Mona is also pursuing this goal with the use of artificial intelligence. El Gabinete from Portugal is taking part for the first time. The service provider develops holistic concepts for exhibitions and presentations in collaboration with cultural institutions. Nature Planet from Denmark is one of the debutants. The world’s leading designer and sales partner focuses on gifts and accessories for zoos, aquariums and museums.

New additions at MUTEC 2022

Among the newcomers, amepheas from Vienna stands out with IT solutions for visitor management. This involves not only admission controls and ticket systems, but also the integration of tour planning, reservations for travel agencies, groups and individual visitors, as well as the storage of store items and cash register closing for administration. However, this year’s MUTEC not only has newcomers to offer, but also two new exhibition areas. The stage technology and equipment segment is aimed at the visitor target group of theaters and stages and cooperates with the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (BHT).

MUTEC – International Trade Fair for Museum and Exhibition Technology takes place parallel to “denkmal”. Together, denkmal and MUTEC form the international industry platform for the preservation and communication of cultural heritage – find out more in the video:

Under the heading MuseumsMerch, trade visitors will also find suppliers, products and program content from the museum store equipment sector. Valuable impulses and new practical solutions can also be found in the specialist program. The MUTEC Forum will feature five thematic blocks with different focal points, such as a panel discussion on “Security” moderated by Dr. Alke Dohrmann (SiLK – SicherheitsLeitfaden Kulturgut), while Markus Helle, editor-in-chief of HIGHLIGHT, will contribute his expertise as moderator in a panel discussion on “Light” and ask about the importance of multimedia staging that can be controlled with pinpoint accuracy and enables precisely defined light emission thanks to new, precise optics.

As part of the first presentation of the “Riegel – KulturBewahren” award at MUTEC 2016, Alke Dohrmann, a member of the SiLK project team, explains in the video what the security guidelines for cultural assets are all about.

A seminar led by Prof. Dr. Oliver Rump, who researches museum studies and museum management at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (HTW), will provide answers to the topic of sustainability in museums. A workshop led by museum consultant Matthias Farke and security expert Clemens Heddier will address the question of how modern security technology can help to support the preventive conservation of objects.

How can objects be stored appropriately? What storage technology should be used? And how much reserve should be allowed for future collection growth?

Storage planning is not neglected either. Prevart is looking for solutions to the problems of museum work behind the scenes: In this context, Dr. Huber will be giving two courses as an experienced depot planner. The first will focus on the recording of quantity structures for depot and storage technology planning. How much space will be needed in the future? How can objects be stored appropriately, what storage technology should be used and how much reserve should be factored in for future collection growth? The second course analyzes the role of the user in depot planning. How can the common thread between users, architects, planners and contractors be maintained? The course highlights the various project phases, the project organization, the user requirements program, the right balance between optimum and maximum as well as communication in a project.

You can find a review of the previous MUTEC in 2018 here. The topics at that time were “Securing and preserving”, “Digitalization”, “Light” and “Accessibility”.