As symbols of national and regional identity, public spheres of knowledge and organic extensions of power, museums find themselves tasked with a very clear, albeit sometimes sidelined, purpose – serving society. This role, also their raison d’être, is developed upon multiple dimensions, from the preservation of the common heritage, its study, exhibition, and communication, to the performance of an educational role where, in many ways, museums offer experiences of leisure, well-being, and entertainment.

That being said, as social institutions, museums embrace this idea of social service and social responsibility which, to a great extent is, in the first place, associated with the direct interaction between museums, communities, groups, and ultimately individuals. Usually, this interaction presents itself in one’s mind, in the context of a visit or of an activity experienced in the space of museums. However, it is important to be mindful that, the interactions between these institutions and society may also happen outside the traditional way, in situations that, for example, involve digital environments. Although the nature of this type of interaction assumes, necessarily, a different context in comparison to the experiences that take place in the physical environment of museums, it is certainly not uncommon for people to have established a contact with a specific museum, for the first time, through online environments. Whether by searching for information online about museums prior to a potential visit, by following their profiles on social networks/ social media, or even by accessing content about their collections, exhibitions, and programmes involuntarily while using digital tools, it is certain that these contacts between museum and society can also take place outside the physical environment of museums.

From another point of view, it seems like the approach of the social service of museums also implies a perspective that covers a deeper sense of social connection. Not just a perspective that focuses on the contact established between museums and society, but a point of view that allows us to understand the impacts in the short, medium and long term, of the action of these institutions on people’s lives. This appreciation has to do, in a succinct way, with the Museum’s position towards the interests, needs and motivations that are inherent to the development of societies. As we know, these questions take on a very great personal level and, above all, are in constant mutation. However, the social relevance and social responsibility of these institutions is directly linked with their ability to align themselves with social, cultural, educational, and technological trends valued by society in contemporary times. Above all, we are faced with the quest for understanding what brings museums closer to society and what brings society closer to museums.

In this context, while operating in an epistemological environment where the modalities of access, production, distribution and understanding of knowledge are increasingly related to the use of digital technologies (Rodriguez-Ortega, 2018, p.1) museums, face, nowadays, a challenging scenario. While seeking to maintain their social relevance, they must keep abreast of their core functions and the world surrounding them. In this circumstance, the fulfilment of their missions implies a direct dialogue with the needs of their stakeholders, visiting public, patrons, and funders, whilst navigating the transformations of a contemporary reality characterised in many ways ”by the requisition of experience by technology” (Gil, 2002, p.21).

Given all this, we can pose the question, what is the future of museums? How can one think
about the future of these institutions projecting, at the same time, a relevant and impactful
educational offer for visitors? Although this represents a particularly extensive field of study in its theory and, above all, in its practice, some points of analysis may be of immediate interest. In this framework, the discussion proposed for this conference is focused on the place of museums in contemporary society, especially in the context of a “network society” (Castells, 2007), and the impact that this context can exert on the educational offer in museums. At the heart of this discussion is the role of digital technologies in enhancing museums social action.