Beyond the Walled Garden: A Framework for AI-Assisted, Cross-Platform Participatory XR for Small Museums, Educators, and Creators

Abstract

Small museums and informal learning institutions face a digital divide in the immersive era: high-fidelity XR often requires resources they lack, while accessible media often lacks embodied depth. This paper presents a participatory, cross-platform framework that uses AI-assisted workflows and WebXR to broaden access to immersive cultural heritage. Aligning with Open Immersive Societies, it argues that immersive technologies should function not as isolated delivery channels but as components of a scalable learning ecosystem. Grounded in hands-on implementation, the framework includes a Spatial Necessity Test for topic selection, strategies for translating cultural nuance into participatory experiences, and AI-assisted workflows for agile production. Here, democratization refers to expanded distribution, participation, audience reach, and deeper learning rather than reduced production effort. The paper offers actionable guidance for small museums, educators, and creators seeking to use XR to tap into new audiences and communicate complex spatial, embodied, and experiential knowledge that traditional media often struggle to convey.