The Shakeout on the Emerging Web 2.0

Then vs. Now Realities

 

Then (ca 1997)	Now (2007)
- computers were not networked; shared files on floppy disk - 4 people could go online at the gallery -- but only one at a time through dial-up - catchall email account for the gallery and passed on messages to whoever the recipient was - had images of 6 works of art from our collection - were a couple of steps off the curve	- 16,000 works of art online - working to post full written content of our 100-odd catalogues online - quarter of a million words from 23 catalogues so far - archive of every exhibition we have held - back to 1944 - 70-75,000 visitors a month to web site - are a couple of steps off the curve

 

Then vs. Now Expectations

 

Of course our collection database is available online - why isn't our collection POLICY online? Our annual reports? That job posting is out of date (it closed yesterday)! Etc.

 

Then (ca 1997)	Now (2007)
- "The Gallery" could be contacted via email - the web site is up to date within a month or so - "for more information, phone ###-####" - artists, employees, donors, sponsors research and communicate with gallery in person and via paper - mailing address and hours of operation on website sufficient	- every employee has their own email address, and it is checked and responded to regularly (more than once a day) - the web site is up to date TODAY - "for more information, visit www.xxxx.com" - artists, employees, donors, sponsors research and communicate with gallery electronically and via web site - mailing address and hours of operation not even the most important part of the site

 

Light a Fire Time

 

My point is not to talk about "exciting new things" (though I've done a bit of that). The real purpose behind this is to light a fire under your bum.

 

Yesterday's "cutting edge" features are today's "got to haves". There was a time when an email account for a museum or gallery was novel; now a collection online is expected and folksonomies are novel.

 

And hey, if you're interested in folksonomies, you've got to check out steve.museum

 

We have to be (at least) in that "soft spot" for 2 reasons: Your public demands it and it's worth it.

 

1. Your Public Demands It

 

Museum visitors are web savvy people. In a CHIN 2004 survey, 81% of museum visitors are regular internet users. This compares to a national average of 68% of Canadians. And the number goes up to 89% for frequent museum visitors (visit a museum once a month or more).

In this same survey, visitors to museum and gallery web sites looked to those sites for the following types of information:

• General information about the museum
• Schedule of special events
• Collections information
• e-boutique
• Images of objects in the collection
• Web-based activities
• Virtual exhibitions
• Learning resources
• Discount offers

21% of those visitors living in Canada and 27% of those living outside of Canada used the Internet in preparing for their visit to a museum - more than one in five visitors will check out your virtual site before they check out your brick and mortar site.

The survey found that "there is a strong positive tie between visits to museums' web spaces and in-person visits to museums. The more one visits museum web spaces, the more likely one is to visit museums in person."

Sources:
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060815/d060815b.htm
http://www.chin.gc.ca/English/Digital_Content/2004Survey/index.html

 

2. It's Worth It

For Little...

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
- A summer student / co-op term every couple of years

- Approx 1 day / 2 weeks for I.T. Admin average

 

...Lots in Return

- 70-75,000 visitors monthly on aggv.bc.ca

- revenue stream through licensing images

- "self-help" for visitors frees up staff time (though also generates more questions)

- each step forward can leverage funding (eg CHIN Agora Pilot project; printmaking mini-exhibit)

- this is core "Mission and Mandate" stuff