What actually happens behind the scenes of major museum projects?
My name is Maya, I study cultural and communication studies, am passionate about mountains, and this summer I get to find out exactly that! As a summer intern, I dive deep into the daily life of the MMM team; I’d like to share my first experiences here.
The start of my internship with the MMM was marked by an introduction to a project that allowed me to immerse myself in the subject matter and philosophy of the museums: creating new audio guide tours with Wonnder. The MMM had embarked on several changes since spring: the brand image and corporate design had been revitalised with great attention to detail. With a modern website and a fresh external appearance, it was time for a new, beautifully designed audio tour to guide visitors through all the museums. This was the starting point of my internship.
As it turned out, this task was perfectly suited to me as a – then still more or less inexperienced – intern. I had the opportunity to familiarise myself with all five MMM locations and delve deeply into their themes, stories, and perspectives, as well as develop a sense of what the MMM stand for and what messages they aim to convey.
To tackle such a project, neither a quick internet search nor a brief AI prompt would suffice: I was faced with intensive research involving reading specialist books, browsing old newspaper articles and audio or video recordings, as well as personal conversations with long-standing members of the MMM team. My research also took me to the individual MMM locations – to the Pustertal Valley in Bruneck (MMM Ripa) and to Kronplatz (MMM Corones), to Sulden at the foot of the Ortler (MMM Ortles) and to the hill of Juval Castle (MMM Juval) – starting from the heart of Schloss Sigmundskron (MMM Firmian) in Bolzano.
What you notice as soon as you enter: each satellite radiates its own unique energy and power, slowing down the fast pace of everyday life and inviting you to pause. On site, I was welcomed by people who, through their work in the museum, not only know every detail inside out but have also developed a deep, personal connection to their respective museum and share their insights from this perspective. Fascinating, captivating, and alive – that’s what all the conversations were like.
Through this extensive research, I was able to gather valuable material and write individual, specific tours. The goal was to weave together solid facts, personal narratives, and first-hand experiences into an immersive audio guide. Thanks to this project, I had the chance to truly arrive at each location and let it fully resonate with me. My perspective shifted fundamentally: from that of a mere visitor to someone with deep insights into the stories of the people behind them. The MMM are no longer just castle walls to me, but living places shaped by the stories and encounters that have taken place within them.
And so the first half of my internship comes to an end – a time full of valuable learning experiences, inspiring encounters, and unforgettable insights. I’m already excited about the adventures the second half has in store for me!
Maya Gasser
„Was wir entdecken können, ist das Geheimnissvolle.“