Under the Dome: Growing Possibilities Without Growing Footprint

ID: WMA2026_621

Track:

Discover how museums can aspire beyond traditional boundaries by transforming dome theaters into dynamic, mission‑driven immersive venues. This session explores strategies to expand content beyond astronomy, redesign spaces for maximum flexibility, and build sustainable revenue through diverse programming, from STEAM education and digital art to concerts, community storytelling, and corporate events. Panelists will share practical frameworks, design approaches, and business models that empower museums of all sizes to unlock year‑round engagement and financial resilience.

Session Information

Format: Regular session/panel (roundtable, single speaker, etc.)

Uniqueness: This session unites design, programming, and business strategy to demonstrate how museums can radically repurpose underused dome theaters into flexible, community‑centered, revenue‑generating cultural assets.

Objectives:

1. Understand how immersive venues can expand program offerings without expanding physical space, through examples and a hands‑on group activity where attendees propose new dome programs.
2. Identify flexible design strategies—such as modular seating, flat‑floor conversions, and enhanced acoustics—that support diverse programming developed in the workshop.
3. Explore sustainable business models by connecting audience‑generated ideas to real operational, partnership, and revenue opportunities applicable across museum types.

Engagement: Audience members will participate in a short, hands‑on micro‑workshop called “Reimagine Your Dome.” In small groups, attendees brainstorm new programs or events that could take place in a dome or flexible immersive venue, without expanding physical space. Groups will share top ideas, and panelists will provide real-world insights about feasibility, design considerations, operations, and revenue potential. This engaging activity directly connects participants to the challenges and creative opportunities of reimagining underutilized museum spaces.

Relationship to Theme:

Audience

Audiences: Curators/Scientists/Historians Events Planning Facilities Management Personnel Marketing & Communications (Including Social Media) Technology 

Professional Level: All levels 

Scalability: The strategies presented in this session scale seamlessly across museums of all sizes, budgets, and facility types. Whether an organization has a fully built dome theater, an underutilized auditorium, or only a small multipurpose room, the core principles ; flexible space planning, diversified programming, and mission‑driven revenue development can be adapted to fit any context. Attendees will leave with actionable, low‑cost strategies that can be implemented incrementally, making these concepts accessible to institutions from small community museums to large science centers.

Participants