Creative and Engaging: Reimagining Museums, One App at a Time

June was a productive and inspiring month for the ExhiBIT project. Two important activities were successfully completed: the pilot testing of the ExhiBIT application in partner and associated museums (Activity A3.7), and the Museum Lab training session (Activity A4.2), which focused on the use of the application, the e-Booklet, and the co-curatorship model.

The activities were organised by Citizens in Power (CIP) and Larnaka Archives – Phivos Stavrides Foundation (LA-FS), with the goal of bringing together museum professionals and cultural organisations to explore new digital tools for participation and representation in the museum sector.

The pilot took place at the Kallinikeion Municipal Museum of Larnaka, offering participants the opportunity to engage directly with the ExhiBIT mobile app and its potential for creating more inclusive, visitor-oriented exhibitions. The event was attended by representatives of several museums from the Larnaka district, including the Museum of Reed Weaving in Livadia, Hadjigiorkis Flourmill Museum, Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, the Pierides Museum, the Costas Argyrou Museum, and of course, the Kallinikeion Municipal Museum of Larnaka itself.

At the same time, the Museum Lab provided in-depth training on the project’s e-Booklet and introduced museum staff to the app’s functions. Through practical sessions, participants learned how to upload content, curate exhibitions with community input, and rethink the role of museums as open, collaborative spaces. The training also included discussions on the importance of involving marginalised and underrepresented groups in cultural heritage practices.

What emerged from these sessions was a strong sense of shared responsibility and enthusiasm for change. The participating professionals expressed their interest in adapting the tools to their own museum environments and in deepening their engagement with the communities they serve.

As the ExhiBIT project continues, these activities in Larnaka mark a significant step forward. They show how collaboration, training, and accessible digital tools can help reshape the way museums operate, placing participation, inclusion, and shared storytelling at the centre of their mission.

For more information, visit exhibit-project.com