Photo by ATS Heritage
From touring archive exhibitions to permanent cathedral installations, digital interpretation must adapt to context without losing clarity.
In conversation with Sian DeWied of ATS Heritage, we explored how STQRY Kiosk supported two distinct projects — one for the British Film Institute and another for St Albans Cathedral.
Different environments. Different technical requirements. The same approach: let the story lead.
For over 30 years, ATS Heritage has built their work around that belief.
The Real Challenge Behind Interactive Kiosks
When organizations explore interactive displays, the first questions are often about hardware — screen size, casing, mounting.
But long-term success has less to do with the screen itself and more to do with the software behind it.
The real challenge is building a system that:
- Is easy for teams to manage
- Doesn’t require developers for routine updates
- Works across venues and technical environments
- Feels intuitive for visitors
- Provides meaningful engagement data
- Supports accessibility and layered storytelling
- Scales over time
That balance between creative freedom and operational simplicity is exactly why ATS chose STQRY Kiosk.
Photo by imageHOLDERS
Touring Interpretation in Action: British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is the UK’s leading organisation for film and the moving image. As custodian of one of the world’s most significant screen heritage collections, BFI preserves and shares decades of film history.
For this project, BFI commissioned a body of interpretive materials to form a touring exhibition. It would travel to:
- Multi-arts centres
- Community cinemas
- Libraries
- Museums
- Education spaces
- Festivals across the UK
The exhibition would only remain in each venue briefly — sometimes a day, sometimes up to a week.
That changed the brief entirely.
Built to Move
Everything needed to be transportable and “pop-up.” Quick to install. Easy to dismantle. Adaptable to very different environments.
BFI wanted an audio-visual resource that enabled visitors to explore “Inside the Archive” in a way that felt accessible, relevant, and engaging.
Like many national institutions, BFI holds far more material than can be physically displayed. Touring exhibitions tighten those spatial limits even further.
Digital interpretation became the way to extend the archive without expanding the footprint.
Using STQRY Kiosk, ATS created a multimedia experience combining text, stills, and moving image — structured to encourage exploration rather than passive viewing.
Sian reflected:
“The STQRY Builder was incredibly straightforward. We could structure content in a way that made sense narratively, without having to think like developers.”
For a touring exhibition, that simplicity is critical. Content must move seamlessly between venues. Updates must be fast. The system must perform consistently wherever it lands.
STQRY Kiosk allowed the digital layer to travel as easily as the physical exhibition.
Demonstrating Impact Across Venues
Because the exhibition was supported by the BFI Screen Heritage Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, demonstrating impact was essential.
The STQRY analytics dashboard provided insight into:
- How long visitors engaged
- Which themes attracted attention
- Where drop-offs occurred
- What resonated most strongly
For ATS and BFI, this data strengthened reporting and informed future interpretation.
Photo by ATS Heritage
Permanent Interpretation with Purpose: St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is home to Britain’s first saint and the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in the country. As the Mother Church of the Diocese of St Albans, it remains a major site of pilgrimage and worship.
Unlike the BFI project, this was a permanent installation.
Revealing History Without Disrupting It
St Albans required a kiosk that would sit comfortably within the Cathedral while offering deeper interpretation.
Visitors come to reflect. To pray. To sit in contemplation. The atmosphere matters.
ATS worked closely with the Cathedral team to shape the content structure and design custom interactives that aligned with St Albans’ branding and guidelines.
At the heart of the installation were ATS “Rubaways” — interactive before-and-after views that allowed visitors to explore how the Cathedral and its grounds have evolved over time.
These layered visuals revealed architectural changes and historical details not immediately visible in the space itself.
Designed for Intentional Engagement
In sacred spaces, technology must be deliberate.
A kiosk creates a clear boundary. Visitors approach it by choice. Engagement is intentional — not intrusive.
The installation needed to:
- Integrate respectfully into the environment
- Support a wide range of visitor types
- Provide accessible interpretation
- Maintain alignment with Cathedral branding
- Allow content to evolve over time
With STQRY Kiosk, ATS delivered a permanent, branded interactive display that extended interpretation while preserving the Cathedral’s tone.
The result is an experience that feels calm and considered.
Photo by ATS Heritage
Partnerships like this are what make strong digital interpretation possible. ATS bring deep expertise in storytelling and visitor experience design. STQRY provides the flexible platform that allows that creative work to scale.
Smart Software for Serious Storytelling
Interactive kiosks should enhance storytelling, not create operational stress.
STQRY Kiosk offers:
- Real-time publishing
- Flexible layouts
- Multimedia support
- Accessibility tools
- Built-in analytics
- Scalable deployment
For creative agencies like ATS, this means the platform supports the storytelling process.
For cultural institutions, it means:
- Lower long-term maintenance costs
- Faster deployment
- Easier onboarding for staff
- Greater content independence
- Measurable visitor engagement
Photo by Millie Turner
What This Means for Your Institution
Whether you’re:
- Designing a touring exhibition
- Refreshing interpretation at a heritage site
- Building interactive displays in a museum
- Enhancing visitor engagement in a cathedral or cultural landmark
Technology should empower creativity — not complicate it.
The right kiosk software should:
- Be intuitive
- Be simple to update
- Offer meaningful analytics
- Support layered, media-rich storytelling
- Adapt across venues
- Provide long-term flexibility
And above all, it should serve the story.
Ready to See STQRY Kiosk in Action?
If you're planning an interactive exhibition — portable or permanent — STQRY Kiosk gives you the tools to create, manage, and measure powerful digital interpretation.
The projects at the British Film Institute and St Albans Cathedral reflect the strength of thoughtful collaboration — where interpretation expertise and adaptable technology work hand in hand.
Book a personalised demo and explore how STQRY Kiosk can support your next exhibition.
👉 Schedule your free STQRY Kiosk demo.
To learn more about ATS Heritage and their award-winning approach to storytelling and exhibition design, click here.