This paper will report on the ongoing work carried out by V-Must, a Network of Excellence, funded by the European FP in its efforts to rethink the VM. The Network has been active in identifying, and mapping tools, and services that define and support VMs in the heritage sector. V-MUST.NET is coordinated by CNR and includes 18 Partners from 13 countries, and Associated Members. The Network was launched 1st of February 2011 and continues through to 31st of January 2015.
Drawing on a series of reports and publications prepared by the Network, http://www.v-must.net/library/publications, we will continue to reflect on the VM (VM) from a variety of perspectives.
This paper will look at the responsive screen – where not only is the screen dynamically re-sizing itself for the numerous platforms – In-house large screens, PC, mobile, and tablet - but will more critically consider the response of the user/visitor who will be encountering the Museum before, and after the visit as well as during the actual visit. What kinds of implications will this have on the visit and visitor, and how can the Museum prepare for these different kinds of scenarios?
Through a series of three case studies we attempt to define the VM as we re-visit the core concept of the museum ethos as it reaches out to meet its visitor. Introducing the visitor to the exhibition, even before the physical visit – in an exceptionally well-honed marketing scenario we will discuss the virtual bear hug – where the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington wraps its electronic arms around the future visitor to the exhibition Yoga: The Art of Transformation. The deluge of visitor/museum scenarios, including promoting the show over numerous social networks and enticing invitations to ‘use’ the exhibition in novel ways aims to introduce the visitors to the exhibition which opened October 19, 2013- well before the red ribbon was cut. The second case study describes an engaging scenario of electronic delivery that accompanies the visitor during the visit and describes the CMA CollectionWall, a 40-foot multi-touch MicroTile Collection Wall that dramatically visualizes all the works currently on view in CMA’s permanent collection galleries, plus some that are in storage— over 3,800 works of art. The third VM scenario, Ask Jacques Lipchitz a Question, authored by the Israel Museum, Jerusalem can be enjoyed after the visit and serves, in a novel way to augment and enhance the experience and maintain the connection between the Museum and the visitor opening up opportunities to ‘meet the artist’ and ‘hear his voice’ – even after his own death.
