Sound has evolved into a transformative force in contemporary society, with advances like Bluetooth LE, audio interfaces, podcasts, and spatial audio reshaping interpretation and experiences in museums and the heritage sector. In such spaces, sound has undergone a dramatic shift from being considered a disruptive element to becoming an artifact and a vital expressive medium for engagement. It now serves as a powerful tool for sensorial, emotional, representational, and social connection, while advancing goals of inclusion, wellbeing, and social justice.
Sound in Museums emerges as a response to these developments, exploring how sound can be effectively exhibited in museum and heritage settings. Devised by Alcina Cortez in 2021, this pioneering forum brings together leading academics, sound artists and designers, museum curators, sound archivists, acousticians, sound engineers, and technology innovators to advance the integration of sound in museum experiences. Through interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, Sound in Museums aims to reshape the future of sonic experiences and the understanding of music cultures in museums worldwide.
Join us for Sound in Museums 2025, taking place October 17-19 at the newly renovated National Museum of Music in Mafra, Portugal.
Maria João Albuquerque
Susana Sardo
Mafra, Portugal
Sound in Museums invites academics and scholars, museum curators and professionals, sound artists and composers, sound designers and engineers, technology developers, heritage specialists, acousticians and audio experts, and museum education specialists to submit abstracts exploring the diverse dimensions of sound in museum spaces.
Call for Multimedia Installations to be announced soon.
All works must be submitted via Microsoft CMT.
Formats and Guidelines Papers
Want to boost your organization’s visibility in the sound and museums field? Network,
establish new relationships, and keep on top of the latest trends?
Join us as a sponsor at Sound in Museums 2025!
For further information, please contact us at info@soundinmuseums.com with the subject SPONSOR.
The National Museum of Music holds one of Europe's richest collections of musical instruments from the 16th to 21st centuries, with some pieces designated as "national treasures."
With its origins dating back to the beginning of the 20th century, the museum is now being relocated to the Royal Building of Mafra. This renewed museum leverages digital innovations to engage modern audiences, blending historical information with multimedia, interactive displays, and 3D Reconstructions.
The inaugural Sound in Museums conference was successfully held in November 2024 at Sonic College in Kolding, Denmark, as part of the annual Sonic Days event. Over 80 participants from several countries attended the conference, engaging in wide-ranging discussions and gaining insights from keynote speakers, sound studies scholars, and museum practitioners.
