GRPM.org in downtown Grand Rapids opened its current building in 1993, but has served as a history, science, and culture museum of the city and region for much longer. The website gives a look at the public-facing elements of their scholarly functions, collections, and annual cycle of museum activities. A related website serves up much of the catalogued material that is out of public view in the permanent exhibit and allows people to contribute their expertise or observations, too.
This week began my annual membership, so instead of an annual visit or two, this supporting status ($45 for self, $15 for each additional guest attached to the admission credential) invites frequent visits to the cafe (but during the pandemic, hot meals are suspended and so only read-to-eat, individually wrapped snacks are on offer), gift shop, planetarium, permanent exhibit and traveling (special) exhibitions. In addition to the museum itself, a separate location holds local history archives and other local studies materials. That is also the host location of the "Museum School" for grades 9-12. The middle school grades of 6-8 are based within the main museum building above the exhibit floors. Approximately 40 students at each location represent the enrollment within Grand Rapids Public Schools since 2016 when the first intake class began, according to the admission desk staff member.
In no particular order these impressions follow from this Wednesday late morning just before the Christmas holiday:
<>Perhaps 20-30 people seemed to be distributed around the 3 floors of exhibition.
<>Mechanisms to engage visitors include QR codes attached to selected locations withing the permanent exhibits so that curious holders of an Internet device can augment the display information with online material. There is a set of 26 topics, one each for the letters of the alphabet, throughout the museum that is designed as a scavenger hunt (e.g. 'W' is for watches and clocks). Similarly to challenge visitors, there what looks to be a seasonal "spot the elf" (?) hidden here and there among exhibits. Some sort of QR code to launch a feedback kiosk would be a good way to collect visitor questions, comments, kudos or complaint, or possibly expert knowledge in situ, at the moment the thought is triggered.
<>Supplemental video displays are salted throughout the mostly static permanent exhibit halls to good effect. This invites visitors to press a button or merely pause for loop videos of interviews, demonstrations, or animated illustrations that relate to the material culture on display.
<>Social media was not heavily represented (hashtags suggested for people to post their picture and comment, for example), but this same museum has successfully held livestream events for those unable to attend a guest speaker in person.
[attached photo: part of the entry area for the special exhibit "Under the Arctic" all about permafrost and related subjects]
video-1, LEGO scale model of Grand Rapids city center and Grand River, https://archive.org/details/wmltc2020grandrapids
video-2, Giant clockworks wind up to strike 12 bells at noon, https://archive.org/details/clockrings12
video-3, Museum foyer features LEGO diorama of the museum itself, https://archive.org/details/museum2020grpm
No comments:
Post a Comment