The Google Art Project

A few years ago Google Earth and Google Street View technology shocked the world with up-close, 360-degree satellite footage of cities and neighborhoods all over the globe. Now, the Google technology is taking to the arts. The Google Art Project uses Google Street View Technology to give viewers a look inside eighteen museums (and counting) from New York to Moscow.

The Google Art Project is a sophisticated tool that can bring countless benefits to the arts and culture sphere. As leisure time becomes more precious and people turn to the internet as a use of their time, innovations like Google Art Project allow opportunities to experience new things virtually. A free learning tool, the project supports self-learning and is a creative way to supplement school curriculums. The project also acts as a marketing tool, showcasing a museum’s works and venues and enticing those viewers with the ability to visit a museum in person to do so.

One of the most interesting elements of the project is the viewer’s option to create a collection.This feature allows a viewer to compose his or her own virtual art collection, which can then be shared with friends. This feature takes the project one step further by adding a relevant social networking component while keeping the project focused on the art world.

For every benefit the project brings there are also uncertainties. Making specific artworks available virtually could negatively affect the participating museum’s visitorship. Copyright and legal issues cannot be overlooked. Also, many images will not be available for view in high resolution, making the presentation less than desirable. While the project provides exposure to number of works, the experience is not the same as a true museum visit, causing a skewed reality.

Although there are many technical bugs and informational gaps to be worked out, the project is still very much in its beginning stages. As it continues to expand its number of museums, the tools, features and technicalities of the site will also improve. The uncertainty of the project’s effects on the art world are unsettling and will prevent some institutions from joining until the consequences are fully explored. This should be not viewed negatively though. Taking the time to explore a technologically advanced idea like the Google Art Project, which is sure to have overarching effects of the entire sector, can only be viewed as a responsible decision on behalf of the institution.

The Google Art Project is a huge step forward in self-education and virtual tour technology, but it is still a work in progress and institutions must be cautious. As long as the project is approached with vigilance and observed by the arts and culture sector, it is sure to have positive and lasting effects.

The Google Art Project: http://www.googleartproject.com/