The Metropolitan Museum of Art has been hosting ASL tours since 2001, but the museum has recently improved its Met Open Access initiative that will present ASL tours of artwork over Facebook Live. The Met Open Access initiative was first launched in February of 2017 and saw hundreds of thousands of high-resolution images of works being available for free and unrestricted access online. This increased the accessibility of artwork on a massive scale, but the Metropolitan Museum of Art has taken it a step further by offering ASL tours of the artwork over Facebook Live.
The ASL Met Open Access initiative has already shown a few exhibits through Facebook Live, including tours of the Rodin exhibit, the Diamond Mountains: Travel and Nostalgia in Korean Art exhibit and Umberto Boccioni’s "Unique Forms of Continuity in Space." Each live exhibit has received a high amount of praise and continued work is being planned to make art accessible to all.
Online ASL Art Exhibits
The Updated Met Open Access Initiative Brings Guided ASL Facebook Tours
Trend Themes
1. ASL Art Tours - Opportunity for museums and galleries to provide ASL-guided tours of their artwork, increasing accessibility for the Deaf community.
2. Online Art Exhibits - Potential for online platforms to host virtual art exhibits, allowing people to view artwork from anywhere in the world.
3. Enhanced Art Accessibility - The use of technology and social media to bring art experiences to a wider audience, regardless of location or physical abilities.
Industry Implications
1. Museums and Galleries - Museums and galleries can incorporate ASL tours into their programming to cater to the Deaf community and enhance visitor experiences.
2. Online Platforms - Online platforms can create virtual spaces to host art exhibits, enabling artists and viewers to connect worldwide.
3. Technology and Social Media - Companies that leverage technology and social media platforms to improve the accessibility and reach of art experiences can tap into a growing market.