Category: Blog Posts

A virtual art gallery is a website used to showcase various art pieces. It is also a platform of interaction between artists and their audience. Numerous prominent art repositories run virtual galleries, one being the New York New Exhibitions Museums. Yet, can you create and run an individual virtual gallery?

It is pretty easy to create a personal virtual gallery, although not that easy to run it. There are some facets you should contemplate before doing this; they include an appropriate software or website, the artworks you want to exhibit, and the quality of the images you will post on your website. The main reason for creating a virtual gallery is to market your artwork.

I will give an in-depth delineation of what a virtual gallery is and how you can create yours and make the best of it. Technology is changing numerous aspects of society, and art exhibition is no exception. I believe after you finish reading this article, you will be able to run your online gallery profitably. 

What is a Virtual Gallery?

If you wanted to see an art piece in ancient times, you would avail yourself at physical art galleries, but things took a different turn in the 21^st century. Today artists have resorted to showcasing and selling their works online as it is easier to reach many people that way.

A virtual art gallery is an online gallery that offers an interactive experience and features the art pieces one wishes to display. Artists prefer digitisation, given that many of their audiences spend most of their time on their phones, tablets, or laptops.

Virtual galleries are coming to light because they have numerous advantages to artists, art collectors, and the community. If you believe you are doing great work as an artist, you should embrace digitisation because the world should see your marvellous enterprise.

How Did Virtual Galleries Come To Be?

Many people have been exposed to virtual reality during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Google Arts and Culture Initiative was instigated in 2011. The interest in virtual reality can be traced back to 2015.

Since 2011, artworks have been easily accessible via technology, but not many people realize this. Many museums and galleries were launching their online platforms during this period, but many individual artists and art galleries were not doing the same.

The coronavirus has coerced numerous cultural institutions to lock their physical locations and satisfy consumers’ needs via the internet. Since there was restricted movement due to governmental lockdowns, they had no choice but to opt for virtual tours.

Because of the pandemic, many artists and art galleries have turned to technology to produce their works in virtual reality, mixed reality, and augmented reality. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, artists had no interest in virtual reality, but today they are amazed by its capabilities.

Preliminary to 2020, art digitisation was mostly perceived as a bonus to expand one’s audience since physical space was more valued. But today, physical spaces are not a priority, and that is why artists and gallerists must know how to create and run virtual galleries- the trends are changing, and chances are things may never go back to what they were before.

Why Should I Create A Virtual Gallery?

You might be asking yourself why you should create a virtual gallery and whether it will benefit you. There are innumerable motives why you should go virtual; the internet would not only offer you the opportunity of achieving new costumers from another parts of the world as can expose you to different art forms that can also inspire you.

Through your virtual gallery, your viewers can still enjoy the experience of a real gallery. However, if you had a physical gallery, you would only reach a few individuals in your community, which may not work in your favor.

What are the Benefits of Virtual Galleries?

If you set up a virtual gallery, it will never be closed, meaning your visitors would not be constrained from accessing your work. Isn’t this lovely? You can choose to run your gallery 24/7; hence, virtual galleries guarantee time flexibility, unlike physical ones.

Virtual galleries can never be congested. Millions of individuals globally can access your work at the same time. They do not need tickets or early booking. You will not experience rush hours, and your visitors must not make long queues before accessing your work. Many individuals hate going to physical galleries because of overcrowding and numerous limitations.

No pandemic can stop you from working if you have your virtual gallery. Art digitization is pandemic proof since your visitors will not physically contact strangers. The only obstacle you may face is yourself since this medium makes it possible for you to keep at it under any unfortunate circumstances.

Visitors can interact with artists and appreciate their works- this is quite rare in physical exhibitions. That being so, you have no idea how many individuals desire to meet you if you are an artist. In addition, you will be more motivated and feel good about yourself if people compliment your work.

There are many restrictions attributed to running a physical art gallery. For instance, you must have a license and pay admission fees. These charges do not apply to online museums. They are quite easy to run since they have minimal requirements.

Virtual galleries are children-friendly. They do not restrict art to being a thing of grownup professionals. Children can gain a 360 view of various artworks and enhance their interest and creativity through these platforms. Hence, virtual galleries include people of all ages and backgrounds.

Virtual galleries are easy sources of education and entertainment. Digitization has created freedom and more insight into art as people of all age groups can now interact with art pieces and interpret them at their own pace. People establish intimate voyages with various art exhibitions, and through virtualization, people can research more about art items.

Virtualization enables artists to conserve their priceless works of art. If you are unsure whether to showcase or preserve your work, you should turn to digitization. This way, you will display them while applying the necessary conservation measures.

Virtual galleries do not call for drop-offs and pickups as it makes buying artworks as easy as making any other online purchases.

Suppose you have a virtual gallery where you showcase your work; you will be exposing yourself to life-changing opportunities considering managers and prominent gallery owners might notice your work and endorse you in big business deals.

Today, many people prefer virtual tours to physical exhibition tours because they find it easy to relax without too much pressure. The only way you can be part of this is by creating your virtual gallery.

How Do I Run A Virtual Gallery?

As you are already aware, you must be willing to integrate your business with the online world to sell art.

The first step is setting up a free account. You have numerous sites to choose from, and some of them include Kumospace, Exhibit Virtual Art Galleries, ArtPlacer Virtual Exhibitions, and VR Art Platform. These websites do not limit how you sell your art based on geographical location, time, and space.

You will need to fill in basic background information before you get approved. The information includes your preferred username, actual name, the place you are residing, email address, and whether you are an artist, photographer, or student. In addition, you will clarify whether your exhibition is a museum, art gallery, or collection.

Choosing a website is quite crucial since they have varying resolutions. Some sites have management software and a mobile app that make them pretty easy to navigate. You can also create a virtual gallery in Google Data Studio and Google Slides.

What Next After Creating An Online Account?

After creating an account, you should upload at least one art piece. Depending on the website you choose, you will get guidance on uploading your artwork, but this is not a complex process.

Be sure to select an artwork you perceive as important and outstanding. Remember that first impression is vital because it depicts your style and vision. Most importantly, you need not worry about how your audience will view your work as long as you post high-quality images.

You should know that some hand-made art pieces may not be as appealing as they would be in physical space, but it is up to you to decide. In case you choose to showcase your hand-made works, remember to include their pieces, dimensions, titles, and other crucial information that may be of value to your clients.

An important aspect you must not ignore is photography. If you are not a good photographer, you should consider taking classes on platforms like Skillshare or hiring professionals because clients get attracted to high-resolution images.

High-quality photos are highly dependent on good lighting. It might be easier to photograph drawings and paintings, but sculptures require more work. You have to set an ideal background and ensure your audience attain an all-round view of the piece.

If you experience trouble managing your account, you can hire someone to do it for you, but of course, you will incur extra costs. But I guarantee you that it is quite simple; you will not need help, especially if you choose a mobile app website. Furthermore, you can photograph your work and instantly upload it to the app if you have a good phone.

How Do I Market My Work on A Virtual Gallery?

After setting up a virtual gallery account, the most important yet challenging task is marketing your work. How will people know about your work?

You must decide on your marketing budget, including the costs of building a website and paying for your domain. Not everyone can create and design a good website, so you might need professional help with that. If you choose to create an account via free service, remember to watermark your work because people are fond of stealing other people’s works.

You can also choose to join marketing communities to help you market your work. You might have to pay a small fee for this, but you can opt for free services. I would rather you pay for marketing because free things are not always without fault.

There are numerous ways you can market your virtual gallery. They include social media, email marketing, search engine optimization, and referral marketing. You have to work hard to promote your work because once you gain a considerable audience, your life will take a different course.

There are countless mediums you can use to sell your artwork. For instance, you can get big audiences on eBay and Etsy. Alternatively, after setting up a virtual gallery, you can collaborate with other galleries to sell your work.

Always ensure to collaborate with virtual galleries with larger audiences than you. Also, research their style and ensure it aligns with yours.

How Will Your Customers Buy From Your Virtual Gallery?

After marketing your website, you will gain good traffic, after which many people will start showing interest in your work. Clients can easily buy your work as long as you display art measurements and prices. After that, you should offer them a certificate of authenticity and receipts. It would be best to have a return policy to make clients earn your trust.

How Do I Package and Ship Works of Art to Clients?

It is easy to wrap up and ship small works like canvas papers, but big artworks are somewhat delicate. You need not worry as long as you invest in packing and shipping materials like boxes and cardboard corners specifically designed for works of art. You should have good packaging skills to minimize shipping costs.

You should get shipping insurance just in case some of your packages get lost or damaged under the care of a standard carrier. Also, you should choose a good shipping service, especially if you are selling expensive artworks to minimize unanticipated losses.

Why Virtual Gallery?

A virtual gallery will give you a platform to create new trends. No one will limit what you choose to express. Today, many artists have taken advantage of digitization to express themselves to the world in manners they could not before. Virtual gallery is not just a financial incentive; it is a game-changer.

I hope you have gained critical insight from this write-up. I wish you luck as you create your virtual account. Always remember to be cautious, especially on copyright issues and plagiarism issues. Do not copy someone else’s work and ensure others don’t copy yours.

References:

https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/how-to-showcase-your-art-collection-online-during-the-covid-19-shutdown

Does The Artist Still Own The NFT?

An NFT (non-fungible token) denotes an individual’s digital assets and a certificate of authenticity stored on the blockchain. NFTs are crucial to the art industry because they help artists track their official work and show subsequent and current owners of the pieces. Does an artist still own the NFT?

The ownership of NFT is quite complex since it is dependent on some aspects. In most cases, NFTs belong to original artists and not art buyers, but there is an exception to this. People can make external agreements to transfer the full ownership of NFT and copyright of an artwork to a buyer after sale. So basically, only original creators are mandated to own NFTs.

It can be pretty exacting to determine the ownership of NFTs, especially in the art industry. Some people even mistake NFTs for copyrights, but the two aspects are different. Hence it is vital to understand NFTs, their functions, and limitations.

I will explore the meaning of NFTs, how to obtain them, and their implications to their owners. NFT is an evolution of digital art collection. NFT can be traced back to 2014 when Ethereum Blockchain launched, but it recently came to light.

What Are NFTs?

NFTs are saleable jpegs that serve numerous functions in the art industry. They make artworks non-interchangeable and unique by storing them in digital ledgers that use blockchain to prove their ownership.

NFTs hold values and have a strong concurrence with cryptocurrencies. However, they are not easily exchangeable because the file stores information that upgrades them higher than standard currency.

People use NFTs to make an original piece of anything unique; it can be a work of art, video, meme, music, or photos. NFTs are not tangible yet tradable; they are files that prove the ownership of original copies of one’s work.

Contemporary artists rely on NFTs because they deem them perfect tools for securing their work and selling them online with minimal risks. Blockchain records all the transactions made on an artist’s work, the people involved in the transactions, and the amount spent.

Unlike NFTs, fungible assets are indistinguishable and interchangeable. For instance, bitcoins are fungible since their value remains the same after a trade. But what about art?

 NFTs do not meet the criteria to be copyrighted, but many people tend to confuse them for copyrights. The main reason for this is that both copyrights and NFTs prevent the duplication of original works. It is vital to heed that NFTs do not necessarily transfer the copyright of a piece of work from its owner to a purchaser.

It can be quite challenging to determine the ownership of NFTs since the association of art and NFTs is somewhat complicated since there are numerous overlaps to consider. Therefore, artists and buyers must discern the legal postulations and pitfalls attributed to NFT ownership.

How Do NFTs Work?

NFTs are created or minted from tangible and intangible digital assets like music, tweets, collectibles, art, virtual avatars, designer sneakers, arts, and sports highlights.

One can verify their ownership of an NFT through the blockchain ledger. It doesn’t matter the format of the original work because it is possible to sell GIFs, JPGs, and MP3s like physical art. The price of NFTs is dependent on the market demands.

Today, you can easily find replications of famous artworks in various locations, made possible by NFT. Hence, there are valid blockchains of lesser value than their originals.

If I buy an NFT of a painting, I will not receive the physical portrait but the certificate of ownership of the NFT through a digital wallet. Of course, an NFT can only have one owner at a time. Still, its ownership has limitations, especially if it is under a buyer and not the originator of a digital asset.

NFTs have licenses of the digital assets they represent, but as earlier mentioned, they do not confer copyright ownership.

Blockchain technology is essential to artists because it affords them a unique chance to monetize their work. Artists are not fully dependent on auction houses and galleries. Through NFTs, artists generate more income because they receive a percentage of interest made from every new sale.

How Do Artists Obtain NFTs?

NFTs are sold and bought on specific platforms, just like cryptocurrencies. Many NFT marketplaces include OpenSea, Raible, Axie Infinity, NBA Top Shot Marketplace, Nifty Gateway, and Zeptagram.

As an artist, you should ensure you have a digital wallet to store cryptocurrencies and NFTs. NFT is reliant on cryptocurrency, meaning you will have to buy one. There are many platforms from which artists buy cryptocurrencies using their credit cards. They include PayPal, eToro, Coinbase, and Kraken.

Before opting for a particular NFT market, artists must thoroughly research their options to evade falling victims to fraudsters who may end up selling their work without their knowledge and permission. Thanks to the internet, people can easily get reviews on NFT marketplaces and determine what works for them.

Few individuals have the technical capabilities to make or mint their own NFTs. But to individuals who lack this technological know-how, there are professionals on NFT marketplaces who guide people on the procedure to acquire NFTs.

Should Artists Buy NFTs?

Computerization has made it easy for people to steal artists’ work. For instance, you can go to the internet right now, download a famous artwork, print it, and use it as you deem. However, that piece will be meaningless because the original one is worth millions of dollars.

Whereas some artists find NFTs valuable, others deem them traps. All individuals who opt for online businesses cannot evade the subject of NFTs. They are worthy because they give artists control over their work and destinies.

Many young artists are making millions from NFTs because they understand that by tokenizing their work, they do not transfer their intellectual rights as they can print and showcase their work. Hence, NFTs have numerous financial benefits to their original owners.

NFTs are most convenient for motion-based works and 3D art because they are ideal online compared to physical space. Additionally, artists do not incur extra customs and shipping charges because of their bulk, limiting them to specific geographic locations.

Just recently, there has been a tremendous increase in NFT profits since February 2020; the interests totaled $60 million.

Are There Risks Ascribed to Buying NFTs?

There are some downsides to NFT ownership. First, the futures of NFTs are uncertain since they have not stayed long in the market. It would be wise if artists did not invest a lot of money in NFTs because it is impossible to tell the outcomes. Furthermore, even though some people have gained high profits, some have not.

One can sell an NFT for a lower value than they bought because their value is contingent on clients’ willingness to pay. Similarly, one may be unable to resell an NFT if no one wants it. Hence, demand is a vital aspect of blockchain technology because lack of thereof leads to tremendous financial losses.

NFTs are controllable by capital taxes meaning one may fail to receive long-term capital gains even if they incur high tax rates. Unfortunately, the taxation also applies to cryptocurrencies; hence, buying an NFT might be more costly than most people anticipate.

Therefore NFTs do not guarantee financial interest. However, they are just like any other investment. That is why artists must conduct research and be willing to take risks cautiously in preparation for unpredictable results.

Does The Artist Still Own The NFT?

Original artists own NFTs, and they have the rights to their works. On the other hand, buyers of NFTs only obtain the digital certificate of ownership of artwork, so they have limited rights to the works bought.

What Are NFT Ownership Rights?

According to the Ethereum organization, only one person can own an NFT at a time. NFTs owners can manage their ownership through a unique ID and metadata that one cannot replicate.

If I buy an NFT, I can prove my ownership through a distinctive identifier linked to the cryptocurrency I use. Meaning that all tokens have their owners, and they are easily verifiable.

Through cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, people can also prove their NFT ownership if they sign messages to show they own the private key behind their address. It is impossible to manipulate the ownership of NFT because the private key proves ownership of the original work.

However, there are some cons to NFT ownership. Since there are NFT limitations, do artists own them?

What Are The Limitations to NFT Ownership?

If a creator of an artwork decides to sell their piece to someone else, they can transfer the intellectual property rights of the NFT to the buyer, yet they must document it for future reference. If the two parties do not write it down, NFT ownership does not entirely belong to the buyer.

Buyers of NFTs need to ascertain the owners of their underlying assets this way; they can evade copyright restrictions. In some cases, people spend millions buying NFTs, but they still belong to their creators if they do not obtain permission to use them.

There is a common myth about NFTs- many people believe that once they buy an NFT, they own the work of art it presents. Wrong! I defined NFTs as tokens representing a digital asset and not a physical item. Hence ownership of NFT means owning a token which is different from owning an asset.

NFT original owners can share their works with their audiences since they automatically own the copyright to their work. However, unlike the creators, the buyers’ use of NFT s is quite limited since they do not own other rights to the work.

This rule does not only apply to NFTs. For example, if I buy a physical piece of art, it will be wrong to display it to the public and claim its copyright ownership. Therefore, to use NFTs as one pleases, one must buy the copyrights from the creator or come up with their work of art.

Accordingly, it is essential to note that NFT purchasers are rarely owners since all they have is a unique hash under blockchain technology with a link to the work they bought and a transactional record of their purchase. So, it is wise to tread caution before purchasing an NFT because of its impediments.

Original artists own NFTs unless they decide to fully sign off their ownership rights to buyers, including copyrights. People need to understand this to contemplate the essence of buying tokens for digital assets via blockchain technology.

What Should Artists Consider Before Minting NFTs?

If you want to mint a work of art or any other asset like a tweet or GIF, you must consider and adhere to the rules of copyright law. Hence, you should know that;

• You are the owner of a digital asset’s intellectual property rights unless you are not its creator.
• You can transfer your copyright ownership to a buyer
• You Must obtain permission to mint an artwork if you created it with other individuals
• You must be the creator of the work you want to mint and should not steal other people’s work
• You cannot mint an artwork created under someone else’s authority, especially an employer, since they have the underlying copyright of that piece
• You can create an NFT using someone else’ work if they permit you to do so
• If other artists inspired your artwork, you should not mint it unless you have their consent

Are NFTs Here to Stay?

As much as NFTs have numerous limitations and require people to tread with caution, they have tremendous benefits to artists. High financial rewards make blockchain technology attractive to many artists.

NFTs will become building blocks usable across virtual worlds created by the internet in the future. Soon enough, many people will interact with others in virtual communities, design their works and explore numerous things in metaverses run via NFTs.

The value of NFTs lies in their capability to track the history of an artwork and its creator; thus, this form of digitization will minimize the theft of art pieces online.

I hope you now understand NFT ownership and its limitations. It’s pretty easy to mint and trace NFTs, yet people should be vigilant while buying them. I believe this information will help you decide whether to mint or buy NFT from an artist. If you choose to buy, you should contemplate copyright ownership so you can use your NFT as you please.

References:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolesilver/2021/11/02/the-history-and-future-of-nfts/?sh=d90c4076a163

https://www.livemint.com/technology/nfts-much-hyped-but-how-do-they-work-11639884308143.html

https://thenextweb.com/news/so-you-bought-an-nft-doesnt-mean-you-also-own-it-syndication

What Does a Data Analyst Do At A Museum?

Unknown to many, there is a strong correlation between museums and data. Like other enterprises, museums are financially-driven organizations that need to collect and analyze data to determine revenue earned and enhance customer experience. Why do museums need data analysts?

Museums need data analysts because they serve vital roles that ensure the effective running of their digital platforms. Data analysts identify trend patterns, analyze and synthesize data to enhance the relevance of museums to modern audiences. Data analysts are valuable to the art industry because they attract more clients and solve financial crises.

I will clarify the association between art and data. The modern world is data-driven, and for industries to thrive, they must be willing to adjust and adapt to the rapidly changing times. Yet this may not be easy, hence the need for data analysts in art repositories.

Why is Data Valuable to Museums?

Prominent museums are enriched with cultural diversity and need data analytics to respond to new audience trends. People do not recognize museums as complex organizations, yet they are competitive, financially and mission-driven, and aim to achieve specific goals.

I perceive that there is no clear association between data and visitor attractions. But museums rely on data analytics to determine the best way to serve their clients. The most significant difference between museums and other organizations dependent on data analysis is that archives are considered public establishments and not profit-driven.

Currently, museums are facing external pressure to meet the needs of young generations. Therefore, analytics and applied data are handy for museums because they help steer the unknown future.

What Type of Data Collection Processes Can Museums Use?

Data analysts help museums understand visitors’ behavior by collecting certain information. For instance, a museum can establish whether local and international tourists exhibit similar behavior, get more works and visitors online, and the target audience segments most attracted to specific collections.

Electronic tracking is an ideal way to collect and analyze data; it helps determine visitors’ expenditure, track clients’ movements while in the museum, and the number of people passing through particular doors. However, data analysts must obtain consent from their visitors to not count as a breach of privacy.

Data analysts use numerous data collection methods like indoor location tracking, surveys, social media profiling, Google analytics, and polls. Many data analysts prefer digital means like Google analytics which are easier to use.

Through Google analytics, museums can obtain various information like their potential customers’ sex, age, location, and demographics. Social media platforms effectively establish how much time users spend on a museum’s site and the pages visited more often.

What Are Museums Like In the Age of Big Data?

Today, many museums are open-minded to digitally converting their assemblage and availing themselves of research. Data projects are not common, and this is quite disadvantageous.

Museums have a big responsibility to enhance client loyalty given the COVID-19 pandemic that limits people’s needs. What makes a museum outstanding and attractive to the public? The seizing of digital data enhances unique customer experiences, loyalty, and satisfaction.

Most museums use data to avail vital information to the public, but most do not realize they can use it to understand their audience. Museums can easily contact clients and inquire about their experiences because clients have varying expectations.

What Impact Does Data Analytics Have on Museums?

From my perspective, data analytics is mandatory in museums. When most individuals go to museums, they never exhibit interest in the works they see; instead, they aim to skim through every piece available in the repository. Museums need to be more unorthodox by spending more money and time to elevate visitors’ interest and engagement.

Data-driven decision-making is often valuable since it gives a museum a high competitive edge- this means that museums should embrace data analytics to fulfill their responsibility to the public. It is awry for a few individuals to have a genuine interest in museums because they are public enterprises. Data-driven metrics help inform the mission and goals of museums.

Hiring a data analyst can be quite costly, but applied data is handy in formulating policies and project implementations. The good news is that today, data is easily accessible through attendance records, Google analytics, and financial information.

Raw data is useless and must be processed to reveal helpful information. Data analytics might be costly, but it is worth it because it is the basis of practical insights in all organizations today.

What Do Data Analysts Do?

Data analysts collect and interpret data to solve problems or enhance organizations’ performances. They work in governmental organizations, criminal justice, art, science, business, and medicine.

Data analysis involves identifying appropriate data, collecting and cleaning it in preparation for research, scrutiny, and finally, interpretation.

Data analysts use numerous tools like Microsoft Power BI, SAS, Google sheets, Microsoft excel, python, SQL, and tableau. The technical skills data analysts must have include data visualizations, programming languages, math, statistics, and database tools.

Data analysts working in museums must have specific workplace skills like industry knowledge, communication, and problem-solving. If you are interested in becoming a data analyst at a museum, you must learn about the industry to familiarize yourself with current trends and issues. Critical thinking and speaking skills will give you an upper hand.

What Do Data Analysts Do At A Museum?

Data analysts determine museum market success through solving data crises and making museums more relevant to new audiences. Most museums rely on anecdotes to decide events and programs, yet this should not be the case.

Some museums lack the financial resources and professional development necessary for accreditation. Most people employed in museums lack the knowledge and morale to collect, analyze and interpret data hence the rising need for data analysts.

The use of personal anecdotes in making decisions is quite unpredictable because technology is rapidly changing the industry. Museum professionals cannot evade using digital operation tools in enhancing sustainability. Data analysts help understand, change and evaluate organizational practices with minimal or no risks.

Why do the millennials and individuals of generation Z exhibit tremendously low interest in going to museums? This age group entails a massive percentage of the world’s population. Thus, they should be the museum’s target audience. If young people lose interest in museums, the chances are that the generations to come will manifest the same behavior.

Museums should hire data analysts to enhance inclusivity and vibrancy in art repositories. Since most museums employ staff that are not well trained on data analysis, they should consider hiring professionals or training their staff on data logic and analysis.

Today, only eminent museums hire professional data analysts because the budget for hiring these individuals is relatively high. Examples include the Smithsonian museum, which has an internal team of data analysts to interpret visitors’ data. The British Museum uses Microsoft data scientists to mold client experiences.

Prominent museums have access to more resources than small museums; thus, they are highly likely to benefit from data-driven decision-making. Through research on data analytics, data analysts can evaluate audience engagement, sales development, and ticketing, hence organizational success.

Museum funders are now demanding evidence of organizational impact on the public. How can measurable results be achieved? Relevant museums have professionals who use digital data evidence that helps determine social impact.

It is vital to evaluate the influence of museums on the community to gain funding from NGOs and governmental foundations.

What are the Responsibilities of Data Analysts in Museums?

• Conducting user research and utilizing it to improve the existing organizational practices; for instance, by developing solutions for problems discerned, they can find out why some works receive more attention than others.
• Developing data analytics programs and suggesting new projects to be enacted to elevate user experience and high revenue
• Using mobile technologies to establish the needs of the target audience and the trends in behavioral change
• Training internal stakeholders on how to collect and analyze data in small museums that may not afford to employ many data analysts
• Coming up with continual reports on critical digital metrics and presenting them to firm managers, and other senior personnel
• Analyzing implemented projects to determine their impact on a museum
• Serving as organization referencing sources for data analysis and implementation
• Researching on possible development or enhancement of new projects and channels
• Establishing the effect of digitization on user behavior

How Do Data Analysts Make Use of Data to Enhance Client Experiences and Boost Organizational Earnings?

The biggest obstacle museums face today is using and expanding data analytic tools with little money and time. The solution entails incorporating external data sets like geographic, demographic, and psychographic information, enabling museums to pay dividends without necessarily relying on consultation or staff.

Data analytics enable museums to communicate with their audience. Some museums do not engage in systematic qualitative analysis. They should rely on data and its potential to influence anecdotal inferences. Data visualization is essential in communicating insights, therefore building museums’ strength in logical reasoning. 

Museums must practice data analytics- it does not necessarily need to be perfect. Most organizations believe in perfection, yet this leads to delays which might do away with the value of expenditure in analytics.

All museum organizations can use data because it is easily accessible. There is vast information on past events and current happenings that help organizational management understand how contemporary art repositories work. I believe applied data can change the museum industry for the better good.

Museums can use numerous digital devices to collect data on client preferences, including audio guides, mobile applications, and touch screens.

Audio guides are sources of audible information on visitors’ progress. They help reconstruct customers’ routes, and the analysis of the data collected is useful in determining the information most consumed and the works that spark the most attention.

Mobile applications are also handy in monitoring the flow of visitors in museums. Data analysts can discern the most requested exhibits through the apps and ensure clients receive their requests.

Touch screens are a pretty significant source of data because they showcase the screens most visited by clients, the time spent looking for available information on an art piece, and the methods clients use to search on-screen.

Data analysts explore customers’ behavior to know a specific museum’s target audience and develop a good loyalty strategy to enhance clients’ trust and allegiance.

Are there Museums that Have Benefited From Informed Decision Making?

Many prominent museums formulate their strategies depending on the information conveyed by their data analysts. These evidence-based scenarios demonstrate the essence of applied data in the valorization of museums;

• The Fenimore Museum of art in Cooperstown, New York, could not discern the relationship between ticket sales and media advertisement. The solution was to compare the postal codes of sold tickets with geographic ads through data analytics. The proposed implementation resulted in an increase in the number of clients from locations where radio advertisement of the firm was high.
• The Madrid Reina Sofia National Museum could not understand the visitation trends for some art exhibitions. The finding was that a significant percentage of the visitors were from abroad, mainly first world nations.
• The Chicago Art Institute wanted to increase its revenue by attracting more visitors. It used data analytics to track the visitation of clients and the time they spent at specific exhibitions. The museum chose to promote the galleries with more visitors, thus increasing profits.

How Can You Become A Museum’s Data Analyst?

You should have specific qualifications to be hired as a museum data analyst. They include;

• Bachelor’s degree in any analytical field like Economics and Mathematics
• The technical know-how of navigating social media platforms
• Good communication skills
• Good data visualization skills
• The ability to multitask and willingness to learn
• Good organizational skills
• Ability to understand and interpret large data sets
• High morale and good professional conduct
• Good writing skills  for drafting data analytics reports
• High proficiency in the use of Microsoft Excel, SQL, python, tableau, and Google sheets
• Ability to make good data-informed decisions that enhance organizational success

In closing, I hope you understand why museums need data analysts. If this is your desired career, do not hesitate to send job applications to any museums that may be hiring. A good data analyst is valuable to a firm and receives high compensation for the excellent work done.

References

https://medium.com/museum-tech-trends/5-reasons-for-museum-data-analytics-14b777c12d2a

https://searchbusinessanalytics.techtarget.com/feature/Museums-and-data-A-powerful-combination

https://arenametrix.com/en/marketing-museums/

https://nysmuseums.org/MANYnews/7300085