Virtual Museums – A Plea

Digital technologies have opened up new possibilities for the cultural sector. Many museums are represented on the internet with various materials. Augmented reality and virtual reality offer immersion experiences even for existing museums. However, for many topics there are no museums and exhibitions. The author group "Virtual Museums Forum" is now presenting a contribution to the discussion that focuses on museums in the metaverse. It aims to promote conceptual considerations for implementing virtual museums. This raises two fundamental questions: "What is a virtual museum?" and "For which topics or constellations can a virtual museum be particularly suitable?" This book provides a pragmatic answer to the first question. Comprehensive theses are then put forward for the second question and implementation of virtual museums. "Virtual Museums Forum" author group: Isabelle Becker, Messe Basel Otmar Böhmer, Kunststiftung Volkswagen und Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg Reinhard Gröne, Angel Engine e. V., Düsseldorf Bernd Günter, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf Rebecca Heinzelmann, Studio Heinzelmann Anja Kircher-Kannemann, Jugendstilforum Bad Nauheim Yasmin Mahmoudi, Kanzlei Dr. Mahmoudi & Partner Rechtsanwälte mbB, Köln Julia Römhild, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf Holger Simon, Pausanio, Köln Theresa Stärk, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf Laura Zebisch, Goethe-Institut