How do you involve colleagues in the development of a new digital product? Why did that one promising app fail during the testing phase? And after how many failed attempts did that beautiful collection platform finally succeed? During this meeting, we step out of our comfort zone. We share honest stories about practical experiences where things went well and also not according to plan. By being open about our 'blunders,' we help each other tackle digital projects in the cultural sector smarter and more effectively.
What can you expect?
We start the afternoon with a pleasant lunch. Then we dive into the world of digital projects with three concrete practical examples. They will show what went well, what mistakes they made along the way, and how those were turned into valuable lessons.
In the second part of the afternoon, there is room for your own input during the Open Space sessions. Here, you set the agenda: bring in your own case, ask a question you're struggling with, or join a discussion on a specific theme.
Program
• 12:00 – 13:00: Networking lunch
• 13:00 – 13:10: Opening by Loes Hoogeboom (DEN community core member)
• 13:10 – 13:25: What is the DEN community? A brief introduction
• 13:25 – 14:45: Three practical examples: Mistakes and lessons
Lotte Boekhout (project manager and game designer at Living Story) - project 'Time Detective' from Museum Gouda.
Nanne Brouwer (external project leader at Jewish Cultural Quarter) - project 'Grupa' from the Jewish Cultural Quarter.
An-Sofie Vandecruys (Head of Marketing, Communication & Public at Pakhuis De Zwijger) - CRM implementation project at Pakhuis De Zwijger.
• 14:45 – 15:00: Break
• 15:00 – 16:15: Open Space sessions: Bring your own topic and engage in discussions
• 16:15 – 17:00: Closing and drinks
What do we mean by a digital project?
The answer is actually quite simple: as soon as the end product of your project contains a digital element, we are already talking about a digital project. This can be anything. Think, for example, of: a new website, a CRM system, a digital collection platform, an app or interactive experience, a digital exhibition.
Speakers
Lotte Boekhout is a project manager and game designer at Living Story. Living Story is one of the most experienced serious game studios in the Netherlands and specializes in Game-based Learning: applying science and experience from gamification and game design. She will take us through the learning process and the ups and downs of the serious game Time Detective.
Time Detective from Museum Gouda is a serious game that you can play from your smartphone's browser. The game guides you through special places in the city, where you solve puzzles and discover archive materials. Like a real detective, you trace a historical character step by step. The players of the game bring history to life themselves and learn something about the place where they are now.
The city game was developed in collaboration with Living Story, Tourio, De Gouda Time Machine (Regional Archive Midden-Holland and Historical Association Die Goude), and the Digital Heritage Network.
Nanne Brouwer is an external project leader at the Jewish Cultural Quarter. He helps organizations like the Jewish Cultural Quarter and Arcadia Leeuwarden develop digital products. How? Through co-creation with end users, building strategic partnerships, and creating support within teams. He works both on assignment and on his own initiatives. Plenty to learn from him during the DEN x DigitALL Community meet-up!
Read this interview with Nanne from the DigitALL Toolkit.
Grupa is an educational museum app that encourages young people to explore the physical environment. It is a platform that allows museums to continuously create new tours and improve existing ones. With Grupa, curators and educators can compile tours and continuously improve the experience. For better alignment with an exhibition and current events.
Grupa is part of the Spraakmakers project, a collaboration between the Jewish Cultural Quarter, Catharijne Convent Utrecht, Museum de Proefkolonie, Greenberry, and the Toekomstfabriek.
An-Sofie Vandecruys has been connected to Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam for over 4 years as Head of Marketing, Communication, and Public. She is responsible for the audience and brand strategy of Pakhuis de Zwijger, which is currently focusing on more data-driven work, optimizing the visitor cycle, and online storytelling. The common thread in her work is combining strategy, concept development, and sociological perspectives to create a brand story that contributes to positive societal change.
During the presentation, An-Sofie will share more about the transition from a CRM to a new marketing & ticketing system for Pakhuis de Zwijger. At the same time, a new planning system was implemented, allowing various departments to work with new digital systems that are also interconnected, resulting in restructured processes. She will share more about the preliminary phase, implementation, and the role of the Digital Empowerment program by DEN in this.
For whom?
This meet-up is for everyone in the cultural sector involved in digital projects. Whether you work at a museum, performing arts institution, archive, or library: you are welcome to learn from each other.
With whom?
The DEN Community organizes this meet-up together with Cultuurloket DigitALL. DigitALL supports the digitalization of the cultural sector with donations and knowledge sharing. Think of theaters, music venues, museums, cinemas, festivals, and producers of professional performing arts. The program supports large initiatives, but also smaller institutions that want to use technology to improve their relationship with their audience.
About the DEN Community
The DEN Community is for professionals in the cultural sector working on digital issues and projects. It is a place where you share knowledge, meet colleagues, and exchange experiences.
In addition to the online platform, we also organize live events, such as these meet-ups, where meeting, learning from each other, and open dialogue are central.
Not yet a member of the DEN community?
