Venice, January 16–18, 2026
Disruptive Interpretation: pratiche e strategie per mediare contenuti

In Italy, museum interpretation has not yet developed as a well-established disciplinary community. There are practices and experiences, but no shared knowledge that recognizes interpretation as an autonomous discipline with its own methods and theoretical foundations.
Those approaching this field often come from related areas—museum education, accessible design, curatorship, critical writing—important yet fragmented paths. In short, there are few “schools” that can build a widespread awareness of the interpretive potential of objects and collections.

Disruptive Interpretation: Practices and Strategies for Mediating Content is a workshop devoted to museum interpretation, offering a solid and deeply interdisciplinary methodological framework grounded in international perspectives and critical, experimental approaches.
The course promotes the acquisition of skills to design meaningful experiences—capable of engaging audiences, stimulating reflection, and fostering the creation of personal meaning. A cross-cutting focus is placed on a human-centered approach.

Learning Objectives

The Disruptive Interpretation course combines theory, practical workshops, case studies, and moments of informal exchange to foster an active learning environment. It aims to provide participants with concrete tools to design effective and inclusive interpretive experiences.

Specifically, the course helps participants to:

- Understand the principles of interpretation in a clear and interdisciplinary way
- Define communication objectives and key messages, recognising the polysemic value of objects and collections
- Develop practical skills to design experiences that engage and stimulate audiences
- Integrate a people-centered approach, taking into account diverse audiences and accessibility
- Learn how to create an interpretive plan, from concept to implementation
- Build professional relationships by engaging with some of the leading experts in Italy

Lectures, workshops, and talks by:

James M. Bradburne (former Director of Pinacoteca di Brera and Biblioteca Braidense), Antonio Cangelosi (Naturalist), Irene Calderoni (Scuola Piccola Zattere), Maria Chiara Ciaccheri (Museologist; We Exhibit), Stefano Luca (Sound Designer, University of San Marino), Nicole Moolhuijsen (University of Leicester; We Exhibit), Michela Perrotta (Peggy Guggenheim Collection), Vanessa Vaio (Interpret Europe, ViVaio).

PROGRAM

Day 1 | Friday, January 16, 2026 | 2:00–5:30 PM

Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Rispondere al presente: i perchè dell’interpretazione

- Registration

- Maria Chiara Ciaccheri, Introduction to the course

- James M. Bradburne, Other Voices in the Museum – Listening as Disruption | talk and discussion

- Michela Perrotta, Getting Hands-on with the Past: Workshop Practice in the Service of Cultural Interpretation | presentation

- Optional social gathering (aperitivo per bacari)

Day 2 | Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 9:30 AM–5:30 PM

Scuola Piccola Zattere
Strumenti e prospettive

Morning

- Irene Calderoni, Beyond the Exhibition: Scuola Piccola Zattere and the Mediation of Processes | presentation and guided visit

- Maria Chiara Ciaccheri, Tools and Perspectives | presentation and workshop

- Maria Chiara Ciaccheri, Interpretation is Accessibility: Overlaps and Future Scenarios | talk and discussion

Afternoon

- Antonio Cangelosi, When Nature Speaks: Understanding and Engaging Others | talk and discussion

- Stefano Luca, Sound Design for Exhibition Spaces: Potential, Risks, and Future Outlook | talk and discussion

- Nicole Moolhuijsen, Methods and Approaches for Rethinking Interpretation through a Queer Lens | talk and discussion

- Optional group dinner

Day 3 | Sunday, January 18, 2026 | 9:30 AM–1:30 PM

We Exhibit Studio
Progettare

Morning

- Introduction and summary

- Vanessa Vaio, Strategies that Break the Mold: The Role of Interpretive Plans | presentation and workshop

- Maria Chiara Ciaccheri, From Training to Practice: Where to Go from Here | talk and discussion

- Closing and recap

Afternoon

- Optional suggestions and informal follow-up with the We Exhibit team

How to Participate & FAQ

Course registrations close on December 19 or until all seats are filled (max 20 participants).

The registration fee is €330, which includes attendance, access to museums and partner venues, online materials, and a certificate of participation.

You can cancel your registration at any time. If you notify us at least 30 days before the start of the course, you’ll receive a refund minus a €30 administrative fee. If you cancel after this period, no refund will be issued—but you can attend another upcoming course of your choice free of charge.

Please note that the training will be held in Italian. If you have specific needs, let us know.

For further information or questions, please contact us at formazione@weexhibit.biz or check our FAQ section in Screen Reader mode.