Opening Anders?! Museum de Heksenwaag

Saturday, June 15th, Museum de Heksenwaag in Gemeente Oudewater opened the new permanent exhibition “Anders?!” With this unique exhibition, the museum has achieved a European first. The exhibition utilizes advanced AI technology developed by ImproVive, allowing visitors to truly experience the dynamics and impact of exclusion.

Over the past three years, extensive work has gone into realizing the exhibition “Anders?!” in an innovative way. “In conversations with the mayor, the plan emerged in 2021 to use the Heksenwaag as a center for awareness, fairness, equality, and being able to be who you are,” says Isa Van Wee, director of Museum de Heksenwaag. During the opening, Mayor Danny De Vries spoke about the valuable lessons from the history of the witch persecutions and drew a parallel with modern forms of exclusion and discrimination. “It is astonishing to think that people were persecuted and murdered simply because they were different,” said Mayor De Vries. “The pyre of the past has now become a digital pyre.”

ImproVive developed the AI application in which visitors interact with characters in a historical setting. Through this interactive experience, visitors can understand what it is like to be in the shoes of a woman wrongfully accused. “In various scenarios, they can experience the emotional and social dynamics of exclusion and reflect on their own role.” Go check it out for yourself at Museum de Heksenwaag in Oudewater.

By leveraging AI and game technology, it is possible to let visitors experience complex topics such as discrimination. We immerse visitors in the stories of others, but also give them influence over the course of the story. At ImproVive we would be happy to help more museums and institutions offer an impactful experience.

What would you like to do ‘different’ in your communication or presentation using AI? Read more about our AI-solutions and how you can apply them to your topics.