Our world has gone digital, and it comes as no surprise that the centuries-old tradition of visiting museums also rapidly transitioned to the cyber world. Amid global lockdowns and quarantine due to the pandemic, trying to maintain a sense of normality or finding new means of entertainment pushed more people towards museum virtual tours than ever before.
The concept of museum virtual tours entails conducting a digitally organised visit, allowing the viewers to explore and interact with the art and culture remains through an online platform. Using 360 immersive fotos, audio notes, and even virtual reality, museums are making sure that visitors experience the same bewilderment and awe that they would in a physical visit.
A positive aspect emerging from this new norm is that now these incredible pieces of history and culture are not only confined to the people who can physically visit these places. Now, everyone from every corner of the world, has the opportunity to experience these tours virtually, often at their own pace.
This kind of touring practice has been adopted by some of the most prestigious museums around the world, hence, you can witness Egyptian artefacts sitting in your living room or take a walk through the grandeur of the Renaissance era while sipping coffee in your kitchen.
An excellent interactive example of this can be found in art gallery tours Europe, where famous art institutions like the Louvre in Paris, the British Museum in London, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, to name a few, all offer this service to their international audience. Their viewers can virtually walk through the magnificent halls, appreciate the art all the while getting the context and history of every exhibit through audio guides.
Furthermore, these virtual tours are not only great for individual exploration and entertainment, but they serve as a fantastic educational tool. Students can take virtual field trips to these museums, can participate in workshops, quizzes, interactive lessons, all while sitting at home.
Artists and researchers can endlessly explore different eras, styles, techniques without worrying about the constraints of travel, money, and time.
Why stop with history and art? The Arena of virtual tours is not only confined to historical and art museums. You have a whole gamut of things to choose from. You can explore famous zoos, botanical gardens, archaeological sites, space museums, science centres and even heritage sites and landmarks. There’s no limit to the variety of online exploration that you can delve into.
Although initially driven by circumstance, museum virtual tours are most definitely here to stay. The universal access, inclusivity, self-paced exploration, exceptional learning resources make these virtual explorations a boon to our society.
It might not completely replace the actual experiences of physical visits. The sheer sensory overload, the thrill, the feeling of standing in front of a piece of history or incredible art, the smells and sounds of a crowded museum on a busy day cannot be replicated.
However, the efforts taken to digitise the experience is undoubtedly appreciable. The chance to provide culture, history, and knowledge at the fingertips of people around the world is nothing short of a technological miracle. Hence, embracing this digital transition opens up an earth of opportunities and global connectivity.
So, why wait? Grab a cup of coffee, find a comfortable spot, hunker down into your favourite blanket and let’s take a tour around the world.