Russian Museums Embrace Augmented and Virtual Reality for Immersive Exhibitions
From Murmansk to Perm, cultural institutions across Russia are using AR and VR to transform traditional museum visits into interactive digital experiences.
Russian museums and cultural centers are rapidly adopting virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, turning traditional exhibitions into immersive journeys through time and space.
Among the recent examples is the Murmansk Regional Museum of Local Lore, which will open its new VR exhibition Forgotten and Abandoned in November. The project is based on panoramic aerial images captured during an expedition, recreating the life and atmosphere of long-forgotten settlements along the Tersky Coast from the early 20th century. Visitors will also be able to take virtual tours enhanced with augmented reality elements.
In Perm, the Environmental Culture Center in Balatovo Park features “phygital” exhibits and VR applications that let visitors explore local nature. A multimedia installation called Northern Reindeer in the “Middle Taiga” zone reveals the animal’s anatomy and habitat in detail.
For the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Russian developers have created a mobile app that allows users to experience virtual tours of its architecture and interiors, accompanied by lectures and choir performances.
Thanks to these technologies, museums and cultural institutions across the country are developing virtual tours, expanding online collections, and building digital archives. To accelerate this transformation, the Kindness of the North charitable foundation has launched the Museum’s Digital Friend initiative, offering free IT consultations to support the sector’s digital growth.
