MUSEUM AND CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM PROCESSES: IMMERSIVE PRACTICES AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF URBAN SPACE INTO AN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE «GOROD GOVORIT» AUDIO-TOUR PROJECT

Abstract

Abstract. This article examines contemporary museum processes related to digitalization, the transformation of museum communication, the expansion of museum educational functions, and the development of new forms of audience interaction. The study aims to identify the potential of immersive and digital practices for expanding museum activities and integrating local historical and cultural heritage into the daily lives of city residents. The practical material is the audio tour project "The City Speaks," implemented by the Historical and Cultural Center of the First President in Temirtau. The project is based on the placement of QR codes throughout the urban environment and the provision of access to audio routes through a digital platform. The changing nature of museum communication is analyzed: from a predominantly stationery and group model to a personalized interaction between people, space, and historical narrative. It is shown that the use of audio formats, acting, scripted dramaturgy, and digital tools allows for the creation of an emotionally rich museum educational experience. It has been established that urban space can act as a distributed exhibition, and the museum as its interpreter and mediator. It is concluded that such practices hold promise for the development of museum pedagogy, engaging young audiences, promoting cultural socialization, and preserving local historical memory.

Research materials and methods. The study draws on the concept, content, and organizational model of the "City Speaks" audio tour project, as well as scientific publications on museum pedagogy, the digital transformation of museums, and immersive educational practices. The methods employed include literature review, comparative analysis of traditional and digital forms of museum communication, case study analysis, and structural and functional analysis of project solutions. The theoretical propositions are compared with the results of research on digital technologies in museum education.