Upskilling and reskilling cultural heritage professionals: evidence from a workshop on metaverse exhibition design

This article supports the involvement of cultural heritage professionals (CHPs) in the design process for creating engaging exhibitions, emphasizing the importance of equipping them with the necessary digital skills and tools. To this end, it reports on an intensive workshop entitled "Platforms and Tools for Digital and Virtual Exhibitions," conducted for CHPs in the Apulia region, Italy. The workshop aimed at developing skills and knowledge in designing digital exhibition environments aligned with European recommendations for digitalizing cultural heritage. Over 16 hours, distributed into four online sessions, the workshop introduced theoretical frameworks, case studies, and hands-on practice using Spatial and Artsteps. Evaluation data collected from 21 participants assessed self-efficacy to measure how well-prepared participants feel, perceived learning to gauge their perceptions of learning, and usability to measure their familiarity with the platforms covered, indicating significant learning outcomes and positive user experiences.