Artsline

New Media in 21st Century Arts Organizations: More than Just Technology

Many art forms and arts organizations that have thrived for decades are now in a race for survival, a race that some may not win. Only organizations that are agile enough to embrace new technologies and media, attract new audiences, and provide value to their communities will emerge as the new model of a successful organization.

 

The Warhol: Resources and Lessons

Image: The Andy Warhol Museum's Students Creating a Screen Test at the Museum. Copyright 2006 The Andy Warhol Museum, a museum of Carnegie Institute.

The Andy Warhol Museum (AWM) has recently launched its new educational website: The Warhol: Resources and Lessons, teaching across the humani­ties. The project was built from ten years of the museum’s educa­tional practice working with art­ists, teachers and students to create units of instruction that foster cre­ative and critical thinking, student success and achievement. The site is expanding the educational ser­vices and role of The AWM locally, regionally, nationally and inter­nationally. The value of using a single artist’s work and practice as a means to create effective models for teaching and learning in and through the arts is demonstrated by the many schools who have participated in the planning, devel­opment and use of these lessons in the real world.

Interview: Charles Croce Discusses Uses for New Media at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

A visitor using Guide by Cell in Mexico and Modern Printmaking: A Revolution in the Graphic Arts: 1920-1950.

What are some of the ways PMA is using new technology?

Podcasts are one of our most widely used new technologies. This year, we added some­thing we call Museum Minutes, these are downloadable from the website and feature a PMA curator telling you about an exhibition. Users can create their own tours by downloading exhibitions of their interest and bringing their IPod or Mp3 player to the Museum. Downloads are available through PMA’s website, as well as on ITunes. The downloads are much easier to use than the self-guided audio tours because they are free and they give them total independence to create their own experience at the museum.

Also, our RSS Feeds are a great tool because they update subscribers when new information is available on PMA’s website. This way they do not have to constantly check the website or wait for the email updates.