Virtual tours are all the rage, giving people the chance to experience places without having to physically attend them. Now, various Manchester venues are jumping on technological developments to reach a wider audience.
Live streaming has already been a revelation at the Whitworth and Manchester Art Gallery, and future technology like virtual reality could improve their virtual tours further. It’s an exciting time, and cultural experiences in the city are enhancing the viewer experience.
Jumping on Live Streaming Craze
The live streaming craze has gathered serious pace in the 2020s, and now the technology is almost unavoidable. It has transformed countless industries and has upgraded the immersion levels in entertainment massively. For example, there is roulette for beginners with real world dealers, operating a table from a studio. Thanks to the real-time stream, hosts can talk people through the procedure and help them with their bets.
This instant interaction has proven to be useful in other industries as well. For instance, live streamers on platforms like YouTube can answer questions from their followers immediately, adding to the conversational and communal feel of the technology. Live streaming can take people to other places, putting them on the front row effectively – albeit through their phone or computer screen. It’s no surprise that brick-and-mortar venues are now using it to bring people closer to the action.
Which Art Galleries Offer Virtual Tours?
A few of Manchester’s main art galleries have already jumped on the virtual trend, with Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth being the two most notable examples.
Manchester Art Gallery has offered numerous virtual tours over the last few years, with the Grayson’s Art Club exhibition among its first forays into using the technology. The whole thing was brought to life online through 3D scanning, meaning that online visitors could work their way around the exhibits and view everything just as they would if they were visiting in person. There have also been various online talks led by the museum’s curators, allowing viewers to ask questions about the pieces and get answers in real time.
The Whitworth has been expanding its range of online offerings in recent times, with various virtual exhibitions and podcasts. The museum even features past exhibitions online, meaning that art lovers can always look back at their favourite pieces even if they aren’t displayed any more.
How Could Future Tech Improve These Experiences?
It’s great to see some of Manchester’s top cultural institutions beginning to provide digital access, and hopefully this is just the beginning of something even greater. Many experts expect virtual reality to be huge in the future, and this could be an exciting upgrade to online art tours. The immersive technology could allow people to feel as if they are walking around art galleries without having to be there.
It’s an exciting time for Manchester’s art galleries, as they are fully embracing new technology to expand their reach. Hopefully, this trend will continue in the city, with more places offering people the chance to experience them online.
