Hello All! My, what a time it has been for museums right now.

As I am currently quarantining from my own abode, I thought I would go back and look at some of the things I have posted about Museums during the virus’ early months.

While some museums remain open or have recently reopened, most are remaining closed. Here’s an article I wrote back in March, right when COVID-19 was hitting the US and outbreaks were increasing. While we have come far from this, we have much farther to go.

Since we have far to go still and museums are still low on the priority list, I will be sharing some of the museums I have visited in the last few years, as well as any COVID-19 updates that museum has posted. Stay tuned for some virtual field trips!

For now, please enjoy this round up of virtual activities from some museums around the world!:

” More public sites are closing down, and fewer people are out on the streets of the world. TheLouvre voted to close their doors for several days, as front end staff feared the exposure to COVID-19. With more and more museums and public locations seeing fewer visitors, it is perhaps time to look at the future engagement of museums. Would digital visits deter an upset visitor if they were feasible? Could VR technology be something museums could consider not only as a method of quelling upset crowds upon closure, but also enhance accessibility? Let’s look at some museums who are reaching new audiences with technology. 

1) The Louvre

Those who are looking for a good glimpse of the Mona Lisa, without dealing with the crowds in the Salle des États, might try the Mona Lisa: Beyond the Glass VR experience at home. Allowing visitors to be in a room alone with the Mona Lisa is a very unique experience, as the room is quite often crowded. Through further examination, the VR experience, downloadable at home, peels back the paint of the Mona Lisa, for an even deeper look . 

Additionally, the Louvre also has online virtual tours for their visitors for some of their galleries, though it is limited in scope. At present, virtual tours exist for the Medieval Louvre and the Egyptian Antiquities.

2) Natural History Museum, London

While not cost effective, the Natural History Museum in London has a Sky VR tour that features Sir David Attenborough and their rare collections. Through the VR technology, the museum allows you to “handle” different specimens in their collection all from the comfort of your own home. However, you will need a compatible VR headset to do so. Additionally for those of us in the US, it will cost $4.00. 

3) The Kremer Museum

The Kremer Museum does not exist. At least not as a physical space. It is a wholly VR experience using the Kremer Collection of 75 Dutch and Flemish Old Master paintings. Each one has been meticulously photographed thousands of times, and will bring you closer than ever possible to the pieces of art. Available as a download for $10.00, one of the coolest things is that the entire experience is crafted from floor to ceiling. 

These are just some of the ways museums are engaging virtually with their audiences, and opening new doors for technology to adapt the visitor experience. With more potential shutdowns in the future due to illness, are there more cost effective solutions smaller museums can participate in that would allow visitors to still engage? Do you think the idea of a entirely virtual museum is something that could be feasible in the future? Tell me what you think below!