#195 - New digital dimensions

Hello

I so very nearly let the first month of 2021 go by without an email. Oops. I've been collecting loads of links since the last email went out, so don't worry - there's plenty to come. Or do worry if you find keeping up to be a chore.

First, a quick plug: Mon 1 Feb is the deadline for joining a whole bunch of other cultural organisations on Culture24's latest action research project looking at How to Evaluate Online Success. They ran the same thing 10 years ago and I've written about why now is the perfect time to revisit it (also I'll be involved in delivery). So if evaluating digital activity is on your to do list for 2021 then take a look.

Anyway, onward…

Did you see Balenciaga's Fall 21 launch? The fashion world have been making some interesting digital moves. They used a videogame to launch their season.

Collections and archives
Announcing Explore the Collections. Kati Price introduces the V&A's new online collection along with some of the thought behind it, and where things are going next.

Navigating Wellcome’s Digitised Archives. "How do we provide all users with an intuitive interface for interacting with our archives online, regardless of their level of research experience?"

The Virtual Fashion Archive. "A collection of archival fashion garments brought to life in new digital dimensions". There are some very nice touches here, especially adding movement.

After open access. "What happens to a museum after it has gone open? We spoke to Linda Spurdle of Birmingham Museums Trust to find out".

SMK Open Year One: The first 12 months of SMK’s online collection. Jonas Heide Smith says "Time flies, I know. But what happened? How did users react? And what did we learn?"

Social media
The impact of Curator Battle | York Museums Trust. In case you were wondering, here are some infographics.

How a Dudley museum became a TikTok sensation. The Black Country Living Museum has been getting lots of coverage for doing TikTok well.

Music
Roblox: “The concert market is going to get a lot bigger”. An interview with Jon Vlassopulos, Roblox’s global head of music, about "how artists, promoters, venues, festivals and labels can “reinvent” themselves for an online-first future; how the so-called ‘Metaverse’ will spawn a new wave of digital-native artists; and why the next generation of fans won’t have to choose between virtual and physical shows".

Record Labels Reap Billion-Dollar Bonanza From Tunes on Social Media. "Warner Music signs accord with TikTok, the newest in a series of pacts with social platforms".

What Is “Escape Room” And Why Is It One Of My Top Genres On Spotify? "Using data to understand how genres understand us".

Miscellaneous
Looking backwards to go forward — words from talks in late 2020. Seb Chan's "rough amalgam of several different talks that I’ve done between October and December 2020 that have skirted around the challenges for digital staff and skills in museums".

Live from Europe - Adelaide Festival. This is a slightly different approach. A festival can't bring performers over so they're livestreaming exclusive performances in to venues.

Generating Revenue through Digital Content. Spektrix with case studies and notes from a session about different approaches to streaming digital culture and monetising content online.

tiny show by Stuffed Wombat is a charming little thing (desktop only).

So there we go. Take care, and I'll be back with more before you know it.

Chris Unitt

Coach. Digital training for culture professionals.
Sessions in Feb/Mar include Facebook Ads Essentials, Google Ad Grand Tips, Better Online Content, and Website Usability.

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