Presentation Information
[PD10-01]The Future of Planetariums as Community Cultural Venues
*Kate McCallum1, Michael Daut2, Dani LeBlanc3,4 (1. WORLDS, PGA: Producers Guild of America, TV Academy, GSCA, IPS (USA), 2. WORLDS, K2 (USA), 3. The Center for Space Sciences (USA), 4. Immersive Theaters at the Museum of Science, Boston (USA))
Keywords:
Future,Culture,Community,Sci-Arts,Entertainment,Arts,Music,Philanthropy,Wellbeing,Experimental
Planetariums of the Future as the New Civic Centers
A speculative global vision for the next-generation community portals
Planetariums are quietly poised to become one of the most important hybrid civic spaces of the 21st century—part science temple, part art house, part consciousness lab. Their architecture already points the way: a shared dome, a collective gaze upward, and a tradition of storytelling that bridges myth, mathematics, music, arts and meaning.
In a fragmented culture hungry for both truth and transcendence, planetariums can evolve into community portals—serving education and science by day, and arts, culture, and immersive entertainment by night.
This panel of professionals will share their experiences and visions for where the planetarium and dome format is headed, and what technologies are emerging that make these venues the “go-to” format for awe-inspiring immersive experiences both from an educational and an entertainment perspective. The panel will be followed by an audience Q&A.
From educational content by day to entertainment, fine arts and culture by night, the dome format is poised to continue evolving over the next few decades by bringing together diverse audiences and their interests. Whether it’s a family wanting to experience the wonder and science life and the universe, a mainstream audience wishing to watch Hollywood films, visual music, and or mixed media dance, live music and performance, or a later-night crowd attending a laser show or wanting to hear their local favorite band play live with visual accompaniment, or -- anyone interested in a meditative healing experience, the domes are the most flexible screens today.
With LED screen technology now accessible, these LED domes like the SPHERE, COSM’s venues and the LED planetarium theaters are drawing in new attendees who are marveling at the quality of the images they see on the screen.
How can your planetarium theater continue to stay relevant in your community, build new audiences and sustain your future? What type of content will creators be producing and how can you collaborate with other cultural organizations to achieve success? Join this lively discussion and help create the future of fulldome!
A speculative global vision for the next-generation community portals
Planetariums are quietly poised to become one of the most important hybrid civic spaces of the 21st century—part science temple, part art house, part consciousness lab. Their architecture already points the way: a shared dome, a collective gaze upward, and a tradition of storytelling that bridges myth, mathematics, music, arts and meaning.
In a fragmented culture hungry for both truth and transcendence, planetariums can evolve into community portals—serving education and science by day, and arts, culture, and immersive entertainment by night.
This panel of professionals will share their experiences and visions for where the planetarium and dome format is headed, and what technologies are emerging that make these venues the “go-to” format for awe-inspiring immersive experiences both from an educational and an entertainment perspective. The panel will be followed by an audience Q&A.
From educational content by day to entertainment, fine arts and culture by night, the dome format is poised to continue evolving over the next few decades by bringing together diverse audiences and their interests. Whether it’s a family wanting to experience the wonder and science life and the universe, a mainstream audience wishing to watch Hollywood films, visual music, and or mixed media dance, live music and performance, or a later-night crowd attending a laser show or wanting to hear their local favorite band play live with visual accompaniment, or -- anyone interested in a meditative healing experience, the domes are the most flexible screens today.
With LED screen technology now accessible, these LED domes like the SPHERE, COSM’s venues and the LED planetarium theaters are drawing in new attendees who are marveling at the quality of the images they see on the screen.
How can your planetarium theater continue to stay relevant in your community, build new audiences and sustain your future? What type of content will creators be producing and how can you collaborate with other cultural organizations to achieve success? Join this lively discussion and help create the future of fulldome!