The Museum Computer Network (MCN), a non-profit organisation supporting museums to achieve their digital goals, has announced the full programme for the MCN 2025 Conference, which is taking place in Minneapolis, US, from 20 to 22 October.
On the theme Resilience and Resonance, this year’s conference will consider how museum professionals can navigate continuous change while ensuring that digital experiences remain meaningful and effective.
MCN 2025 will gather cultural heritage professionals from museums and heritage sites in North America and beyond to connect, share expertise, and investigate the most recent advances in digital technology for museums in the inspiring surroundings of the Walker Art Center.
During this period of immense uncertainty, the event offers a valuable platform for organisations to learn, collaborate, and develop resilience strategies.
For more details and to register, please click here.
Building knowledge & networks
The conference offers a dynamic agenda across two days with sessions, panels, and case studies exploring a range of topics such as AI, digital strategy, collections access, and community engagement. In addition, a range of networking events presents opportunities to meet and build lasting relationships with industry peers.
Attendees can also enjoy signature evening events, with the popular Ignite! event at The Dakota Jazz Club on Monday night, and a reception at the Mill City Museum on Tuesday evening.
Conference highlights include:
- Community and collaboration. The programme focuses on networking and community building, including new events such as First-Timers Meetup and returning ones like Speed Networking and SIG-focused (Special Interest Group) events. These social elements and emphasis on collaboration are a key part of the conference experience.
- Data and digital sovereignty. Sessions such as Land Back, Data Back, Everything Back: Respecting Tribal Sovereignty in Digital Project Design, address the crucial and urgent subject of data ownership and cultural respect.
- Digital accessibility and inclusivity. The importance of developing digital experiences that are both accessible and inclusive is a core thread for the conference, and is explored through sessions such as Embedding Accessibility into Process: Lessons from a Museum Website Redesign.
- Emerging technologies. The schedule includes sessions on the application of advanced technology in the cultural sector. The conference’s innovation focus includes topics such as AI systems in museums and new technology in art museums.
In June, MCN opened registration for the 2025 Conference and shared details of its commitment to making the event accessible to a wide range of organisations.
