2018-07-23 00:00:00 UTC
Intel, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Sansar Partnership Enables Anyone, Anywhere to Virtually Experience Iconic Museum Collections, Research, and Education Resources
SAN FRANCISCO - July 23, 2018 – The
Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) exhibition, No
Spectators: The Art of Burning Man, is now available in virtual reality
through Sansar, the premier destination for social VR. Powered by Intel
technology, this recently
announced partnership will make iconic artwork more accessible and
interactive through virtual reality.
In embarking on this partnership, SAAM
is doing its part to help achieve the Smithsonian’s ambitious goal: expand the reach
of the Institution’s collections to a billion people, in just five years’ time.
This means making its museums’ objects available to the public across a wider
range of mediums, including immersive domains like virtual reality - Sansar’s
specialty, and a major area for Intel innovation.
“Intel empowers the creator to take their work
to the next level,” said Raj Puran, director of immersive technology business
development at Intel. “Technology has the potential to achieve new goals and
ambitions for museums and galleries. Immersive technologies, like virtual
reality, unlock new and exciting ways to experience art and exhibitions. Fans
can now check out the No Spectators collection from their own home. Without
Intel’s high-performance processors, these experiences would not be possible.”
Thanks to Intel’s advanced data-processing
technology and Sansar’s social VR platform, the Smithsonian has been able to
accelerate the digital 3D capture, preservation, and distribution of artifacts
in its collections, so that students, educators, and the broader public can
virtually access and engage with the museum’s collections from anywhere in the
world. It’s an entirely new kind of viewing experience, and one sure to
transform every aspect of the museum business, from the creation to the
consumption of educational content.
“I don’t fear technology usurping the
importance of art and museums,” says Stephanie Stebich, The Margaret and Terry
Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. “I think technology can
make museums and their collections even more inclusive, approachable, and
dynamic.”
“With Sansar, we hope not only to make the
museum experience more accessible, but to also empower people to curate
experiences of their own and share their unique perspectives with the world,”
says Jason Gholston, Head of Sansar Studios. “We’re thrilled to be supporting
this transformation of art and education, and we’re excited to find
forward-thinking partners in Intel and the Smithsonian.”
The first release in this partnership with the Smithsonian features the
large-scale artworks assembled for the exhibition, No Spectators: The Art of
Burning Man, on view for a limited time at SAAM’s Renwick Gallery. No Spectators captures the spirit of
creativity and community, and has been digitized through hours of careful laser
scanning and photogrammetry. Starting today, anyone with a link to the Sansar
experience will be able to virtually view, access, and interact with the
collection in its entirety, as if they were standing in the galleries
themselves.
“This is an innovative new way to access
educational content from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and to preserve
art for future generations,” concludes Jason. “We’re democratizing the museum
experience one exhibition at a time.”
Experience “No Spectators” today.
About
Linden Lab
Linden Lab develops platforms that empower
people to create, share, and benefit from virtual experiences. Founded in 1999,
the company first launched Second Life, the groundbreaking virtual world
enjoyed by millions around the globe, in 2003, which has since gone on to boast
nearly two billion user creations and a vibrant $500 million (USD) economy. The
company further expanded its portfolio in 2013 with Blocksworld,
a lighthearted build-and-play system, and in 2017 with the public beta of Sansar, a
free platform making social VR more accessible and immersive, available on
Windows PCs and compatible with HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. For more about Linden
Lab, its products, and career opportunities, visit its website.