In recent years, cultural spaces around the world have undergone a significant transformation, driven by advances in technology and changes in public behavior. In Santa Catarina, this trend is no different: museums, cultural centers and galleries — as is the case with digital entertainment platforms, such as Vemabet — are rethinking their forms of presentation to become more attractive, especially for new generations who are connected and accustomed to digital interactivity.

The presence of technology in cultural experiences is no longer a differential; it has become an expectation. Touch screens, mapped projections, augmented reality and interactive applications have become common tools in exhibitions that aim to go beyond passive contemplation. Instead of simply observing a work, visitors are invited to interact, experiment and, often, co-create.

In Santa Catarina, cultural spaces have been progressively adopting these innovations. Some institutions have incorporated digital resources into permanent and temporary exhibitions; others explore sensory and immersive experiences to bring the public closer to art and local history. This renewal reflects not only a technological adaptation, but a paradigm shift: the focus is now on creating engaging experiences, where visitors stop being spectators and become active participants in the artistic process.

By seeking a more immersive relationship between the public and art, these cultural spaces create new forms of emotional connection, expanding access and awakening interest even in those who traditionally do not frequent museums or cultural centers. This is a movement that combines tradition and innovation to build a more dynamic, accessible and participatory future for Santa Catarina's culture.

In Santa Catarina, several cultural spaces have adopted interactive technologies to enrich the visitor experience. Here are some notable initiatives:

Hering Museum – Blumenau

The Hering Museum has launched an immersive metaverse experience, accessible globally through the Hermann Hering Foundation website, app or virtual reality headsets. This initiative allows visitors to explore the history of Brazilian fashion in an innovative and interactive way.

Located in Joinville, the National Museum of Immigration and Colonization offers interactive exhibits that tell the story of the immigrants who shaped southern Brazil. The museum provides an immersive experience, connecting visitors to the region’s cultural roots.

In Pomerode, the Brazil Germany Interactive Museum features installations that allow visitors to interact with elements that connect Brazilian and German cultures. The space is designed for the whole family, offering an educational and playful experience.

MASC, located in the Centro Integrado de Cultura (CIC) in Florianópolis, hosts exhibitions that incorporate digital technologies to provide a more immersive artistic experience. The exhibition "Territories [Im]permanent" is an example of how the museum uses technological resources to enrich the appreciation of works.

These technological initiatives also promote accessibility and inclusion in cultural spaces. For example, the Florianópolis Museum offers exhibitions with audio description and augmented reality features, ensuring that people with different needs can fully enjoy cultural experiences.

These examples demonstrate how cultural spaces in Santa Catarina are integrating technology and interactivity to enrich the visitor experience, promoting inclusion and making art and culture more accessible to all.

How interactivity increases audience engagement

The introduction of interactive elements into cultural spaces has revolutionized the way the public interacts with art. More than just passively observing, visitors are now invited to touch, explore, react and even interfere with the works, creating a richer and more memorable experience. This participatory model, mediated by technology, is particularly effective in reaching new audiences — especially young people, children and people who are not familiar with traditional museum environments.

Technology acts as a bridge between artistic content and the daily lives of visitors. Resources such as augmented reality, sensory panels, digital games and immersive experiences help to spark curiosity and make the cultural environment more welcoming and dynamic. In Santa Catarina, this type of approach has encouraged schools to promote guided tours, families to return to museums and even tourists to include cultural centers in their leisure itineraries.

Furthermore, interactivity contributes significantly to the learning process. Direct contact with the work stimulates sensory perception, reinforces concepts through multiple stimuli (visual, tactile, auditory) and strengthens knowledge retention. Therefore, interactive art is often used as an educational tool, with high pedagogical value.

Main benefits of interactive art in cultural spaces:

• Stimulating curiosity and exploration: the visitor is motivated to discover, touch, experience.
  
• Stronger emotional connection with the works: active participation generates greater identification with the content.
  
• Active and sensory learning: ideal for children, neurodivergent people and school audiences.
  
• Inclusion of people with disabilities: accessible interfaces, such as audio guides, subtitles and tactile resources, enhance the cultural experience.
  
• Bringing generations closer together: grandparents and grandchildren interact together, sharing the same experience from different perspectives.
  

This expansion of engagement transforms cultural spaces into lively, accessible and meaningful environments for diverse audiences — contributing, at the same time, to the appreciation of art and the democratization of access to culture in Santa Catarina.

The future of cultural experiences in Santa Catarina

Santa Catarina's cultural scene is making great strides towards an increasingly digital and immersive future. The interactive experiences that are already beginning to take hold in museums and cultural centers represent just the beginning of a deeper transformation. Emerging trends include the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create dynamic and personalized exhibitions, the generative art — produced with the help of algorithms — and the gamified exhibitions, which use game mechanics to engage the public in a fun and educational way.

These new languages ​​require not only investment in technological infrastructure, but also training of qualified professionals. Curators, educators, programmers, digital artists and technicians need to work together to plan experiences that are simultaneously innovative, accessible and culturally relevant. Educational institutions and public bodies have a fundamental role to play in encouraging training projects focused on the intersection of art and technology.

However, it is essential to understand that digital evolution does not intend to replace traditional art. On the contrary: technology emerges as an ally, expanding the possibilities of artistic creation and enjoyment. Immersive installations, sensory panels and creative algorithms do not nullify the value of an oil painting or a marble sculpture — they simply offer new layers of meaning, new forms of dialogue and a greater capacity for democratization of access to culture, especially among historically excluded audiences.

In Santa Catarina, where cultural diversity is one of the most striking features of the local identity, the future of cultural experiences will depend on the balance between tradition and innovation. The challenge lies in preserving what is essential while making room for the new — thus building a vibrant, inclusive cultural scene that is prepared for the times ahead.