Jiaxin Liu | Unlocking the Past: Bridging Art, History, and Young People’s Media Environment Through Multisensory Extended Reality (XR) Engagement

Museums and art galleries play a crucial role in enlightening the public and improving appreciation and comprehension of art and cultural heritage. In today’s increasingly competitive and hyper-mediated world, attracting and engaging young people is one of the most challenging issues museums face; young people are constantly bombarded with information and entertainment options, making it difficult for museums to compete for their attention, museums must find ways to make their collections and programs engaging and relevant for youth. This research aims to investigate the potential of multisensory XR in museums and art galleries, with the goal of enriching young visitors’ experiences of artistic heritage and engaging in interactions that can increase the level of engagement, facilitate museum-based learning, and promote the dissemination of cultural heritage. The main research question of this research is: How can multisensory XR experiences be used to reconnect young visitors aged 18 to 24 in museums and art galleries?