This is our prediction contributed and included in Museum Next’s museum digital predictions article for 2021.

Physical distancing measures have transformed artistic experiences. In some ways, the possibilities for exhibitions are more limited than ever – but there are immersive alternative avenues to capture visitors’ imaginations. The availability of AR, VR and XR technologies have created an environment in which customers are accustomed to engaging with artworks in a shared virtual world, and primed to engage with the adaptation of collections to an online space. The stage is set for the digitisation of artwork collections through 3D models making it possible for customers to explore artwork collections at distance.

augmented reality prediction

Artwork 3D models are excellent center-stage story-telling candidates particularly for XR interactive experiences that can capture online visitors’ imagination. To date the fundamental irreplaceability of a direct encounter with the original artwork, the difficulties accessing the artwork for 3D capture, museum’s high accuracy and catalogue entry requirements and the resulting high cost of 3D capture have limited the availability of 3D artwork. The opportunity is ripe to capture cheaper and most certainly less accurate scans but open a new digital business line for online engaging experiences at museums.