Leicester Museums & Galleries is asking visitors to share their thoughts on more of the objects within the Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, with a view to displaying the comments on newly installed digital labels.
The digital labels use an e-ink screen, the same technology used in e-readers such as the Amazon Kindle, giving them the look of a traditional paper label.
The interactive labels are centrally controlled via a website and can be updated remotely with additional text and images. The digital displays are installed beside the traditional paper descriptions.
The project, funded by Arts Council England, is hoped to bring new voices to Leicester’s Museums & Galleries, offering what it calls an ‘alternative interpretation’ for selected museum objects.
First trialled in October 2021 as part of the temporary ‘Painting Freedom’ exhibition, the museum is now asking for a fresh batch of comments from visitors on its permanent displays.
A total of 10 permanent museum objects, including a dodo model, oil paintings and Egyptian relics, are to have visitors’ comments displayed via the labels.
Visitors are being asked to write up to 100 words about the objects, which can include opinions, feelings and memories.
For more new technology in the museum sector, read our feature on the 8 tech innovations becoming standard in museums and heritage sites.
8 tech innovations becoming standard in museums and heritage sites
