Technology is rapidly evolving the operations of museums and nonprofits. Now more than ever organizations must keep abreast of the technologies irrevocably changing the way they interact with visitors and administer services. Gartner, the global research and advisory firm, recently predicted the 2019 trends that will accelerate technological progress in years to come. This post examines which trends track with advancements in the museum and nonprofit sectors, providing a prescient glimpse into what the future may hold.
Cuseum’s 2018 Year in Review
It has been a spectacular year for Cuseum and there is a ton to be excited about heading into the new year. 2018 was full of growth, unforgettable happenings, and new additions to the Cuseum family. We’ve never been more excited about what’s been happening in the world of museums, public attractions, and cultural nonprofits. Thank you for being a part of this journey!
Using Technology to Enhance Historical Narratives
Today more than ever, technology is redefining the way we interact with historical narratives. What is technology’s role in historic preservation? And how can it boost awareness of historic preservation and architectural heritage? How can we leverage new digital channels to engage broader audiences and promote a deeper interest in preserving the past?
The Impact of TripAdvisor & Yelp on Cultural Attractions
Word travels fast. And, in our modern, connected world, this is more apparent than ever. With the popularization of websites such as TripAdvisor and Yelp, online reviews have become a way for consumers to share their thoughts on places and businesses and to make sure they have the best experiences possible. These review websites can be just as valuable for museums and cultural attractions as they are for restaurants and hotels.
Pérez Art Museum Miami & Felice Grodin Unveil New Augmented Reality Artwork Presented at UNTITLED Art Fair in Miami Beach
Congratulations to our partner, the Perez Art Museum Miami and artist Felice Grodin on the special release of their latest Augmented Reality-based art installation at UNTITLED. The new AR artwork is unveiled today just in time for Miami Art Week one of the biggest events in the art world each year. The new work, “Mezzbug (offspring 3.0),” is an offshoot of the “Invasive Species” exhibition by Felice Grodin, which opened last year.
The Huntington Museum of Art has everything Including New Digital Membership Cards
The Huntington Museum of Art has launched their new digital membership cards in partnership with Cuseum. For such a diverse and creative museum, they deserve an equally awesome membership card.
This museum has everything from, “16,000 objects, ten exhibition spaces, an interactive education gallery, an art reference library of nearly 27,000 volumes, a 287-seat auditorium, the only tropical and subtropical plant conservatory in the state of West Virginia, a coral reef aquarium, two outdoor sculpture courts, five studio workshops, two miles of hiking trails, and a quarter-mile paved accessible Sensory Trail for the visually impaired.” With such a diverse amount of interests it’s no wonder that the Huntington Museum of Art switched to a more accessible digital membership card option!
The environment is central to the Huntington Museum of Art due to their large plant conservatory and nature trails. In order to show this core “green” value, the museum switched to a sustainable digital membership card.
Is your organization looking to benefit from the conveniences of digital membership program? Schedule a free consultation with Cuseum today!
Picture This: The Gibbes Museum of Art’s new mobile app!
Gibbes Museum of Art has now joined the growing list of Cuseum partners with their new mobile app! The Gibbes Museum of Art is using their mobile app to connect with the vibrant modern scene of Charleston.
We support the the Gibbes Museum of Art’s mission, “home to the foremost collection of American art that incorporates the story of Charleston. The Museum connects the city and region’s artistic past to a vibrant contemporary art scene. This is what we believe”. The public couldn’t be better engaged than by using our mobile app with new tours and maps, as seen in the Gibbes recent blog post.
We are glad the Gibbes Museum of Art has become part of the mobile revolution and we can’t wait to see how they continue to use digital methods for further visitor engagement. Go visit them today and try the mobile app!
Cuseum & Johns Hopkins’ Museum Studies Program Reunite in Boston
The Museum Studies Program at Johns Hopkins University proves that hands-on experiences are the best way to learn. Graduate students recently collaborated with Cuseum to delve into the world of digital media in museums.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science Announces New Digital Membership Cards
We’re proud to announce that the Perot Museum of Nature and Science has launched their new digital membership cards! At Cuseum, we are happy to support museum’s that want to reduce their carbon footprint by going digital.
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is focused on the next generation of scientists, “There are still trillions of stars to identify. Millions of diseases to cure. Countless dinosaurs to uncover. Who will seek out these unknowns? We built a museum to change the way kids see their futures. A place to help them become the next generation of scientists, robot engineers, mathematicians, technology experts, and more”. We are happy to support their mission through our partnership.
For a museum so focused on the next generation, we are glad that they want to preserve the planet through their new green digital membership cards!
Southern Oregon University Alumni Association takes Students back to Class
Cuseum recently unveiled new digital membership cards for the Southern Oregon University Alumni Association. The alumni will now benefit from having their membership benefits at their fingertips!
The Southern Oregon University Alumni Association’s goal is to renew friendships and support the university. With graduates now living all over the world, digital membership cards make connecting alumni easier than ever.
Now, Southern Oregon University Alumni Association’s members have access to local discounts and tickets to events right in the palm of their hand. We are happy to support this organization that prioritizes alumni engagement. Go Raiders!
Is your organization looking to benefit from the conveniences of digital membership program? Schedule a free consultation with Cuseum today!
Southern Illinois University Alumni Association Launches Digital Membership Cards
Southern Illinois University Alumni Association has launched their new digital membership cards with Cuseum! SIU Alumni Association is a group for engaged alums of the university that supports scholarships for current students.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Goes Green with new Digital Membership Cards
We’re proud to announce that the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has launched their new digital membership cards! With a stunning botanic garden focused on conserving tropical plants, it makes sense that they would want to switch to an environmentally friendly option for their members.
The Fairchild puts a heavy interest in preserving plants from over 20 countries with their unique field expeditions, which contributes to the world’s largest collection of palms and cyclads. They then use the research from this collection to reach out to over 150,000 students through their education program! And they’re not stopping there...
The Fairchild has a large support network of members to enhance its vision. Now that over 45,000 members have these new digital management cards, their membership program has never been more convenient for members or greener for the garden. We are happy to support the Fairchild and their community through these digital management cards!
Get Yourself There Now with Now + There's New App!
Now + There has now joined the growing list of Cuseum friends with their new mobile app! Showing public art all around the city of Boston, Now + There is utilizing their mobile app to connect all of their projects across the city!
The Montalvo Art Center gets creative with their new mobile app!
The Montalvo Art Center has now joined the growing list of Cuseum customers with their new mobile app! The Montalvo Art Center is committed to showing art of all kinds in their unique historic property.
We support the the Montalvo Art Center’s mission, “to engage the public in the creative process, acting as a catalyst for exploring the arts, unleashing creativity, and advancing different cultural and cross-cultural perspectives. We achieve our mission by creating and presenting arts of all types, nurturing artists, and using our historic property in innovative ways”. There is no better way to engage the public than by using our mobile app with new tours and maps!
We are glad the Montalvo Art Center has become part of the mobile revolution and we hope they will continue to use digital methods for further visitor engagement. Go visit them today and try our mobile app!
Try the Montalvo Art Center’s New Mobile App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/montalvo-arts-center/id1408577351
How the Denver Art Museum Used Their Mobile App to Create Accessible Experiences for Visitors
There are many ways that museums and cultural institutions can use technology to make their visitor experience both engaging and accessible to all ages and abilities. While many institutions have made accessibility a priority, a leading voice in this movement is the Denver Art Museum. While the museum offers many excellent programs to support visitors of all ages and abilities, through the creation of a Cuseum-powered mobile app, the museum made great strides in assisting visitors with vision and hearing impairments.
Explore Boston’s Seaport District with Their New App
The Seaport has fully embraced its unique and vibrant community with an equally representative app in partnership with Cuseum! With the Seaport being so close to Cuseum’s main office, the partnership was a match made in Fort Point heaven!
Rutgers Geology Museum’s new app is sure to be a Gem
Rutgers Geology Museum are Cuseum’s new rock star clients with the release of their app! Featuring new tours, events and maps the new app is sure to shine as bright as the diamonds on display!
Cuseum Featured in TechRadar for Helping Cultural Sector Embrace Mobile Technology
Attack of the 100-Year Old Startup
At first glance, museums and startups may not seem to have an overwhelming amount in common. The majority of museums are not-for-profit, mission-driven institutions and operate in a different realm than the high-growth (and high risk) enterprises of Silicon Valley. Over the last few years, however, I’ve noticed something very interesting happening in the museum space.
How Museums are Leveraging GIFs & Giphy to Boost Audience Engagement
From dancing dogs to pop culture references, GIFs have added another element of fun to how we communicate in the digital age. Animated GIFs are like short, sweet, videos or digital flipbooks that allow images to come to life on your screen. While GIFs have been around since 1987 (they’re over 30 years old, and also known as “graphics interchange format”) they didn’t rise to mainstream popularity until the late 2000’s. Since their new rise to fame and everyday use, GIFs have not only redefined how we communicate over social networks, email, and SMS, but they have also presented themselves as a new tool to engage and educate audiences in the museum realm. This has led museums and cultural institutions to embrace GIFs as a way to bring their collections to life and engage younger, digital-centric audiences.