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.
Sound in Museums 2025 is an initiative of the Heritage, Archives, and Museums thematic line within NOVA University's Institute for Ethnomusicology, Music, and Dance (INET-md) and of the National Museum of Music
Maria João Albuquerque
Susana Sardo
National Museum of Music Mafra, Portugal
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.
Sound in Museums explores 10 themes, including sound as a mode for lecturing, an artefact, ambiance, art, or live performance. It furthermore delves into crowd curation, mental phenomena, spatial experiences, and technology, addressing accessibility, innovation, and cultural insights across museum contexts.
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.
