thesis subject :
The impact of digital devices on museum development strategies
Thesis start date :
February 2026
Name of thesis supervisor(s) :
Mme Passebois-Ducros Juliette (directrice) & M. Poinsignon Pierre (Co-encadrant)
Thesis abstract :
The European and Canadian museum sector is undergoing a period of structural change marked by the growing integration of immersive digital technologies – such as virtual and augmented reality – into visitor experiences.
This research project, conducted as part of a CIFRE contract with the Correspondances Digitales agency, aims to analyse how these technologies are reshaping the development strategies, governance models and fundamental missions of cultural institutions.
The study focuses on four major empirical areas: organisational restructuring involving new decision-making processes and skills; the evolution of cultural mediation in the face of the risk of spectacle; the conditions for real social inclusion for diverse audiences; and the transformation of the museum’s identity between tradition and modernity.
The research specifically explores the design, production and dissemination stages of the devices in order to assess the degree of strategic and technical autonomy of museum structures.
Using an action research methodology and a comparative approach encompassing a wide variety of profiles – from national and regional museums to art centres and immersive spaces – this work aims to identify the factors that promote harmonious and sustainable integration.
The literature review highlights a paradox: although these tools can increase the perceived value of the experience, they require a holistic approach to prevent entertainment from supplanting scientific rigour. Ultimately, the objective is to define models of ‘digitally responsible museums’ capable of orchestrating hybrid experiences that reconcile heritage conservation and managerial innovation within a cultural ecosystem undergoing rapid reconfiguration
