Jayna Hintz, Woodson Art Museum

Milwaukee Art Museum

Free TEACHER NIGHT

Thursday, March 8, 5-7 PM

For more information call 414-224-3827 or visit http://www.wiarted.org/museum-representative.html

Museums and Technology

With technology, one thing is certain . . . and that’s change! When museums utilize technology – as we do with great frequency at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, where I serve as curator of education – change and the need to be flexible and adaptable are inevitable.

Consider these examples of basic ways that the Woodson puts technology to excellent use: visitors can go to the Museum’s website to find out what is on view as well as how to find the Museum or check our hours of operation http://www.lywam.org/education/index.cfm?room=exhibitions; teachers can sign up their classes for docent-led visits http://www.lywam.org/education/index.cfm?room=tourscheduling; and teachers can request pre-visit or post-visit materials related to specific exhibitions http://www.lywam.org/education/index.cfm?room=archive.

Changing technology also impacts the Museum’s production of audio tours. Currently we utilize software available via the internet, but we are exploring a more sophisticated alternative that will yield a more robust product that offers visitors greater options.

Technology is used for research for a variety of projects, including sourcing just about everything from guest artists to hands-on art project supplies.

The Woodson Art Museum’s Teen Art Council is even utilizing technology to organize an exhibition for teen artists based on the theme of SPACE, to complement the Museum’s spring 2012 exhibition: NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration. All area high school teens, ages 13-18, are invited to create and submit artwork in any medium that reflects a personal interpretation of SPACE.

SPACE entries are to be submitted as digital files online through a link on the Museum’s website, www.lywam.org, between February 1 and March 31, 2012. Artworks to be exhibited will be selected by online public vote from April 10 through 20, also on the Museum’s website. All teen artists selected for SPACE receive an art supply gift package compliments of Jack Richeson & Co. Fine Art Materials.

These are just a few of the ways the Woodson Art Museum is utilizing technology to connect with area art educators and the public. Check out the websites of your favorite museums for ways to create meaningful partnerships to enhance art education.