Monday, 19 January - Friday, 23 January 2026
The Art Museum in the Digital Age – 2026
Now in its eighth edition, the international online conference explores the complex interrelations between truth, fake and falsified information, and knowledge authority in the context of digital transformation processes. In light of increasing disinformation, AI-generated content, and algorithmic bias, museums face the challenge of rethinking their role as trusted spaces for knowledge dissemination. At the same time, digital technologies open up new possibilities for participation, contextualization, and translation. A keynote lecture, four thematic online sessions, an on-site workshop, and a panel discussion will shed light on current developments, ethical tensions, and concrete examples from practice. At the heart of the conference is the question of how museums can assume digital responsibility and actively contribute to fostering an open and reflective information culture.
Period
19 January 2026
20 January 2026
21 January 2026
22 January 2026
23 January 2026
Registration
Language
German, English Simultaneous InterpretationHashtag
#digitalmuseum #belvederemuseumConference Committee
Johanna Aufreiter
(Belvedere, Wien / Vienna)
Christian Huemer
(Belvedere, Wien / Vienna)
Sylvia Stegbauer
(Belvedere, Wien / Vienna)
Alexandra Sommer
(Belvedere, Wien / Vienna)
Oonagh Murphy
(Goldsmiths / University of London)
Chiara Zuanni
(Universität für Weiterbildung Krems / University for Continuing Education Krems)
Ross Parry
(University of Leicester)
Partner
Programm
MO | MON
19
JAN
16.00 | 4 pm
Begrüßung & Einführung | Welcome & Introduction
Stella Rollig, Christian Huemer, Johanna Aufreiter, Sylvia Stegbauer (Belvedere, Wien | Vienna)
Panel 1: Rechtliche & Ethische Aspekte | Legal & Ethical Aspects
Moderation: Sofie Kokas (BMWKMS, Wien | Vienna)
16.30 | 4.30 pm
From Algorithms to Audiences: Navigating AI, Culture, and Policy through UNESCO’s Frameworks
Brendan Ciecko (Cuseum, Boston), Andrea Detmer (UNESCO)
16.55 | 4.55 pm
When AI Doubts Our Existence: Museums, Algorithmic Bias, and the Crisis of Digital Truth
Theresa V. Kennedy (The Black History Foundation, Sheridan)
17.20 | 5.20 pm
Translating Responsible AI into Museum Practice: A Three-Layer Framework
Yan Xiao (Stony Brook University, New York)
17.45 | 5.45 pm
Critical Technological Practice und KI-Ethik: Versuch einer aktualisierten Museumsethik
Sonja Thiel (University of California, Berkeley)
19.00 | 7 pm
Keynote Lecture
Moderation: Christian Huemer (Belvedere, Wien | Vienna)
Responsible AI as a Cultural Imperative
Oonagh Murphy (Goldsmiths, University of London)
DI | TUE
20
JAN
Panel 2: Wissensvermittlung & Quellenkritik | Knowledge Transfer & Source Criticism
Moderation: Markus Wiesenhofer (Belvedere, Wien | Vienna)
17.00 | 5 pm
Quellenkunde im Digitalen „reloaded“: Computation, KI und neue Validierungsketten
Gunther Reisinger (NOUS Digital, Wien | Vienna & TU Graz | Graz University of Technology)
17.25 | 5.25 pm
Communities of Practice: praxisorientierte Perspektiven auf Wissensvermittlung im Zeitalter von KI
Marc Schuran (checkpointmedia GmbH, Wien | Vienna)
17.50 | 5.50 pm
From Display to Play: Cultural Leadership and the Digital Reframing of Heritage in Fortnite
Marja Konttinen (Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki)
18.15 | 6.15 pm
Cultural Experience Design as Knowledge Mediation in Art Museums
Sibylle Moser, Simon Ganahl, Daniela De Angeli (Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften St. Pölten | University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten), Eva Mayr, Florian Windhager (Universität für Weiterbildung Krems | University for Continuing Education Krems)
MI | WED
21
JAN
Panel 3: Digitale Verantwortung & Kulturelle Daten | Digital Responsibility & Cultural Data
Moderation: Chiara Zuanni (Universität für Weiterbildung Krems | University for Continuing Education Krems)
17.00 | 5 pm
The Open Museum as Knowledge Infrastructure: Ethical and Practical Dimensions of Digital Transformation
Marta M. Świetlik, Gabriela Manista (Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw)
17.25 | 5.25 pm
Rubens Online: An Open-Access Artwork Database for the Digital Age
Saar Vandeweghe, Elise Gacoms (Rubenshuis, Antwerp)
17.50 | 5.50 pm
Museums as Data Custodians in the Age of AI
Birgitte Aga, Julie L. Parisi (MUNCH, Oslo)
18.15 | 6.15 pm
Exploring Cultural Knowledge Graph Data using Large Language Models and Retrieval-Augmented Generation
Nicola Carboni (University of Illinois)
DO | THU
22
JAN
Panel 4: Digitale & Menschliche Autorschaft | Digital & Human Authorship
Moderation: Hannes Raffaseder (Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften St. Pölten | University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten)
17.00 | 5 pm
AI in the Curator’s Loop: Designing Transparent and Trustworthy Metadata Displays under the EU AI Act
Richard Palmer, Shehar Bano (Victoria & Albert Museum, London)
17.25 | 5.25 pm
Eine künstlerische Neuinterpretation der Naturalien- und Kunstkammer von Stift Göttweig mit KI als Mitgestalterin
Viola Rühse (Universität für Weiterbildung Krems | University for Continuing Education Krems), Markus Wintersberger (Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften St. Pölten | University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten)
17.50 | 5.50 pm
Beyond Authenticity: Museums as Anchors of Verification in the Age of AI-Generated Video
Leslie P. Zimmermann (Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Mannheim)
18.15 | 6.15 pm
AI in Museum Social Media Practice: Uses, Perceptions, and Future Directions
Sophia Bakogianni (Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens), Cassandra Kist (University of Strathclyde, Glasgow)
FR | FRI
23
JAN
13.00 bis 13.50 | 1 pm to 1.50 pm
Kuratorinnenführung mit | Curator’s Tour with Eva Fischer
Civa – Contemporary Immersive Virtual Art |indeterminate⟩⟨apparatus|
Belvedere 21, Wien | Vienna
Die Führung findet in englischer Sprache statt und richtet sich an die Konferenzteilnehmer*innen. Um Anmeldung wird gebeten.
The tour is held in English and is for conference participants. Registration is required.
14.00 bis 17.00 | 2 pm to 5 pm
Workshop
Moderation: Ross Parry (University of Leicester)
Der Workshop findet vor Ort im Belvedere 21, Wien, statt. Eine Anmeldung zur Veranstaltung ist erforderlich. Der Workshop wird in Kooperation mit dem Institute for Digital Culture der University of Leicester durchgeführt. Der Workshop bietet den Teilnehmer*innen die Möglichkeit, folgende Themen mit Expert*innen zu diskutieren:
The workshop takes place on site at Belvedere 21, Vienna, with registration required for the event. Organized in cooperation with the Institute for Digital Culture at the University of Leicester, the workshop offers participants the opportunity to discuss the following topics with experts:
Tisch 1 | Table 1: AI for Curation
Chiara Zuanni (Universität für Weiterbildung Krems | University for Continuing Education Krems)
Tisch 2 | Table 2: From AI Policy to AI Strategy
Ross Parry (University of Leicester), Jane Finnis (The Audience Agency)
Tisch 3 | Table 3: AI for Art Analysis
Florian Kibler, Markus Seidl (Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften St. Pölten | University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten)
17.30 | 5.30 pm
Podiumsdiskussion | Panel Discussion
Die Podiumsdiskussion findet vor Ort im Blickle Kino, Belvedere 21, Wien, statt. Aus Platzgründen wird um Anmeldung gebeten. Die Veranstaltung wird in englischer Sprache inklusive Simultanübersetzung abgehalten und auch über Zoom gestreamt.
The panel discussion takes place on site in the Blickle Kino, Belvedere 21, Vienna. Space is limited, so registration is required. The event will be held in English and will be streamed on Zoom.
Moderation: Christian Huemer (Belvedere, Wien | Vienna)
Sofie Taes (KU Leuven & Europeana Network Association & DigitGLAM)
Lukas Fuchsgruber (Wikimedia Deutschland)
Jane Finnis (The Audience Agency)