Method

Long Night of Museums

InformParticipateOnboardingUnderstanding & Gathering PerspectivesAnalogue1 - 3 HoursDirectly AffectedInterested PublicHard-to-Reach GroupsOrganised ActorsAs Many as PossibleSimpleCreative

The Long Night of Museums is an event format in which multiple institutions extend their opening hours and offer a joint programme. Visitors can explore different venues, visit exhibitions, join guided tours, and engage in conversations with experts and local stakeholders. In participatory processes, this concept is adapted to make projects, planning initiatives, places, or future visions tangible and accessible. Different stations provide information, present ideas, and encourage dialogue. Instead of a traditional information event, the format creates an open and engaging experience that invites people to discover, participate, and exchange ideas.

Goal

The Long Night of Museums makes projects, places, and future-oriented topics accessible to a broad audience. By combining information, experience, and personal interaction, the format provides an approachable way to communicate complex issues. At the same time, it offers opportunities to collect visitors' questions, feedback, and initial ideas.

When useful?

presenting projects or plans to the public.
topics can be experienced through exhibitions, models, or installations.
engaging new target groups.
connecting different organisations and stakeholders.
launching or presenting an interim stage of a participation process.
reaching a large audience through a low-threshold format.

When not useful?

developing concrete measures or action plans.
intensive workshops or in-depth discussions are required.
formal decisions need to be made.
only a very small target group is involved.
highly specialised technical information is the primary focus.

Process

Determine the topics to be presented and the target groups to be reached.

Possible themes include:

urban development
mobility
climate adaptation
cultural development
neighbourhood development
future visions for a place

Identify the participating locations and organisations.

Possible venues include:

museums
cultural or community centres
public institutions
local associations
project sites
vacant buildings

A diverse selection of venues creates a richer and more engaging event.

Design an appropriate format for each venue.

Possible activities include:

guided tours
short presentations
film screenings
exhibitions
model presentations
interactive stations
workshops
discussion areas

Aim for a balanced mix of information and interaction.

Since visitors often move between several locations, provide clear orientation.

Possible tools include:

maps
programme brochures
event website
mobile app
signage

Routes between venues should be easy to follow and accessible.

Promote the event well in advance.

Suitable communication channels include:

local newspapers
municipal websites
social media
newsletters
community organisations
schools and educational institutions

Particular effort should be made to reach people who have had little previous engagement with the topic.

Begin by introducing:

the purpose of the event
the overall programme
participating venues
opportunities for participation
documentation and feedback options

Visitors move independently between the different locations.

At each station, projects, ideas, or future visions can be presented through exhibitions, demonstrations, or interactive activities.

Experts, project leaders, and local stakeholders should be available to answer questions and engage in conversations.

Informal conversations are a central element of the format.

Suitable methods include:

moderated discussion areas
open Q&A sessions
feedback walls
comment cards
digital participation tools

Helpful guiding questions include:

What opportunities do you see?
What challenges do you identify?
What is currently missing?
Which ideas should be explored further?

Throughout the event, document visitors' opinions, questions, and suggestions.

Possible methods include:

written notes
feedback cards
digital comments
interviews
audio or video recordings

At the end of the event, key impressions and findings can be brought together.

Depending on the format, this may take place:

in a plenary session,
during a closing discussion,
or through a public summary of the event.

Document the event using appropriate formats, such as:

photo documentation
exhibition documentation
summary report
compilation of visitor feedback
video recordings

Organise and review all collected feedback.

Particular attention should be given to:

frequently mentioned topics
suggestions for improvement
open questions
new ideas and perspectives

Publish the main findings so participants can see:

which ideas were collected,
how feedback has been considered,
and how the results will be used in the future.

Transparent communication strengthens trust in the participation process.

The event often generates new questions and ideas.

These can be explored further through additional participation formats, workshops, or dialogue events.

Source: Bujdosó, A. (Ed.) (2019): Social Design Cookbook: Recipes for Social Cooperation. Budapest: Kitchen Budapest.

Notes

Tips

Combine informative content with engaging experiences.
Offer a variety of formats to appeal to different target groups.
Short, easy-to-understand presentations are generally more effective than lengthy technical lectures.
Ensure routes between venues are simple, clearly signposted, and accessible.
Make feedback opportunities visible and easy to use.
Consider using venues beyond traditional cultural institutions.
Create a welcoming atmosphere that encourages conversation and participation.

Not suitable for

concrete decisions need to be prepared.
detailed planning work must be carried out collaboratively.
confidential or sensitive topics are involved.
intensive discussion among all participants is required.
organisational and coordination resources are limited.

Afterwards

Afterwards, methods that organise, deepen, or translate the gathered content into concrete steps are useful. Depending on the goal, the following formats can follow, for example:

World Café

World Café is a participatory method that encourages the open exchange of knowledge, experiences, and ideas. Participants discuss prepared questions in small groups at several tables. By regularly moving between tables, new conversation groups are formed, allowing ideas to evolve, different perspectives to be connected, and shared insights to emerge. The atmosphere is intentionally designed to resemble a café—open, informal, and welcoming. This makes the method particularly effective for engaging large numbers of people in accessible dialogue and encouraging collaborative thinking. A World Café can be held as a standalone event or as part of a larger participation process.

StructuredActivating

Open Space

Open Space is an open participation method in which participants decide for themselves which topics they want to discuss. The process is guided only by a shared overarching theme. The specific questions explored and the direction of the discussions emerge from the interests and ideas of the participants themselves. The method is particularly effective when bringing together a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and ideas. Participants are free to move between discussion groups, introduce new topics, or simply listen. This creates a dynamic, self-organised environment for dialogue and collaboration.

ActivatingCreative

Workshop

A workshop is a facilitated working session in which participants collaborate to explore a specific question, develop ideas, or create solutions. Depending on its purpose, a workshop can be used to share information, analyse problems, or develop concrete actions. Because all participants are actively involved, it is particularly well suited to the collaborative development of results.

CreativeActivating