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Museum opens online doors with virtual collections website

03 Apr 2020

The mobile-friendly site features some of the Museum's best-loved collections and displays, with specialist content for home educators, families and carers, and researchers

Museum in Quarantine

Connection and inspiration is needed during challenging times like this. Manchester Museum is a social space loved by many and very much missed by its visitors during the current closure. It has led to the Museum thinking about and wanting to continue to offer access to exhibitions, learning resources and volunteering opportunities, for all ages.

The Museum has created Manchester Museum in Quarantine, uploading some of its most engaging digital content onto a mobile site so everyone can explore and enjoy the museum in their own homes, helping to entertain, educate and spark joy and wonder until the museum reopens.

The idea was created by the Museum’s Director Esme Ward along with Alia Ullah, Marketing and Communications Officer, who recognised that although the Museum had fantastic online resources, they were difficult to find. By curating them in one place on an easy to navigate site, the Museum could be opened up to people not just locally but across the world. Working collaboratively across the Museum the best content was selected. Visitor Assistant Chiara Ludolini used her technical skills and worked with Alia to develop the site in just four days.

The social media campaign #MMinQuarantine led by Alia was launched on social media and within 24 hours received an amazing response with a reach of over 200.000 impressions and great feedback from the public, with many comments from schools and parents enjoying ‘virtual trips’ of the museum. 

Esme Ward, the Museum's Director, said: "We hope this site helps entertain, educate and sparks some joy and wonder until we reopen."