Clemmentijn Verwoerd-Treinen presents 3 aspects of Google which could be beneficial and inspiring when connecting kids and museums: 1) Google Cultural Institute, 2) Leveraging tools for non profit organisations and 3) the project Codestarter. Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful to everybody.
- Google Cultural Institute
Google initiated the Google Cultural Institute several years ago. The institute aims to make technologies that make the world’s culture accessible to anyone, anywhere. This also includes making art accessible for children. One of their projects is Museum view; it is street view for museums. You can browse through various museums located in different spots all over the world (e.g. The palace Versailles, Uffizi Gallery), as if you were there. Moreover, you can zoom in on paintings with ultra high resolution. This makes it possible to get very close up to a painting: you can actually see the cracks of a painting.
The Cultural Institute also catalogued a large collection of artwork. One can browse through the collection, sort it in various ways and filter for various elements. For example, you could search for a selection of paintings of between 1665 and 1735, which display a horses theme. In this way you can perform your own research and draw your own conclusions. Moreover, you can ‘visit’ digital exhibitions, developed by various artists/curators (www.google.com/culturalinstitute). Street art is also included. Via Google you can see and research artworks from all over the world.
- Leveraging Online
Google has a lot of tools to create an online presence if you want to touch the hearts of young people. If you are a non-profit organization you could apply for 10.000 dollars of free advertising. For example, Cinekids (a Dutch initiative that focuses on children’s engagement with and creation of media) approached Google. Cinekids asked Google to help them to grow online. They wanted to reach a broad audience and raise awareness about their project. They used the free tools: www.google.nl/nonprofits.
- Codestarter
Code starter is a project in which children are introduced to the world of coding. It is a collaborative project with Science Center NEMO. It’s about getting people exciting about math and technology and understanding it in a creative way. Among other things, children learn how to code. The project aims to lower the barriers for engaging in technology and math.
Q&A
Q: Are the digital exhibitions linked to existing exhibitions?
A: Not necessarily, no.
Q: Are you doing the Museum view thing in science related institutes?
A: Mainly with things you can touch and see, as for now.
Q: What is the main thing that people do?
A: Exploring in general and the museum view. The museum view is also the bit that got the most coverage in the media. We’re new to this too. We’re constantly evolving in how we’re showcasing art. The Anna Karenina project was a case for us. (www.karenina.withgoogle.com)
Q: Are you sharing analytics? Can we get info on how people interact with publically owned artefacts?
A: Check the website; a lot of the information is shared where the projects are presented.
Q: Why partner with NEMO, a Science Center?
A: We’re always work with local partners that fit our goals and mission.