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A new take on museum tours

A new take on museum tours
January 2009

Published in Business :: Business Cars Travel News

TAKING THE LEAD

Your next museum audio tour is just a click away.

MP3s and iPods haven't just transformed the way people listen to music-that is, on the go with minimal equipment-they've also changed the way travelers can access art. Many museums across the US have jumped on the podcast bandwagon, creating content that visitors can download online before arriving to see an exhibit.

The content varies, but the end result is the same: Guests have access to info that brochures can't provide, making them more in tune to what they are about to experience. "We wanted people to have a behind-the-scenes story about works of art, artists and the process," says Daniel Incandela, director of new media at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (www.imamuseum.org).

Minneapolis' Walker Art Center (www.walkerart.org) takes it one step further with Art on Call, which allows visitors to access tours and extra info through their cell phones. (It is also available to download online.) According to Robin Dowden, director of new media initiatives, "Our highest usage rate was during the 'Picasso and American Art' exhibition… when 25% of visitors listened to Art on Call using their cell phones."

As Incandela puts it, "I strongly believe that the future of the museum experience will involve these deeper layers." Chances are, he's right.

TOY STORY

The National Toy Hall of Fame inducts its newest members.

The baby doll, the skateboard and the stick-praised for its no-cost, wide-ranging recreational qualities-have joined the likes of the kite, Mr. Potato Head and the cardboard box in the National Toy Hall of Fame. Located in the Strong National Museum of Play (www.strongmuseum.org) in Rochester, NY, the hall of fame recognizes toys that inspire creative play and are continuously popular.

CULTURE CALENDAR

ATLart[09]

Presented by the Atlanta Gallery Association, this celebration of visual art brings together organizations, galleries and museums to highlight the variety of fine arts Atlanta has to off er. Launching Jan. 22 with the kick-off soirée "ARThouse" and running through Feb. 8, ATLart[09] also includes an art auction, museum exhibitions, lectures and gallery openings.

www.atlart.com

Published in Business :: Business Cars Travel News

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