Begun in 2007, the South Carolina State Museum’s innovative cell phone tours have returned in ’08 to give guests a fuller experience as they stroll the galleries admiring objects and learning about the state’s culture.
Art enthusiasts may now hear additional commentary on collector Mark Coplan and his life and mission to promote Palmetto State art and artists in the exhibit The Mark B. Coplan Collection of Art at the South Carolina State Museum.
Many large museums augment various exhibits with audio commentary via equipment that is either tethered to an exhibit or rented at an information desk. The State Museum’s cell phone audio tours eliminate rental fees and allow free movement about the galleries by providing audio messages that can be accessed with the visitor’s own cell phone.
“This is an exciting addition to our art exhibits,” said Curator of Art Paul Matheny. “These cell phone tours offer guests the opportunity to learn more about artists and their works.
“There is also no cost to this program other than a few phone minutes, and most people have hundreds of minutes per month,” added Matheny, “though additional fees may apply if an individual’s cell phone plan doesn’t include long distance coverage.
“A lot can be learned through our audio tours, but only a few minutes of cell phone time is used. It’s an incredible arrangement.”
Eight programs of comment on the Coplan exhibit, approximately one minute each, may be heard by picking up a gallery guide in the Lipscomb Art Gallery, where the exhibit is now showing, dialing (803) 234-8987, and entering the number of the desired topic shown on the guide followed by the # (pound) sign.
Beginning Jan. 31, another cell phone tour will inform history buffs about the Vietnam War in the upcoming exhibit TET: The Turning Point of the Vietnam War.
Guests will learn about the causes of the war, the conduct of the war, its leaders, and the turning point, the TET Offensive.
“This new technology is not only simple and free, it’s a new way to add another dimension to our exhibits to help people understand a subject, whether it’s a war, an artist, a plant or a scientific concept,” said Director of Collections Jim Knight.
Cell phone tours will be added to more exhibits in the future, Knight said. “So we urge our visitors to keep an ear out for them!”
Guests of the South Carolina State Museum can now take advantage of a South Carolina first - audio tours of the exhibit The Mark B. Coplan Collection of Art at the S.C. State Museum, and the upcoming exhibit TET: The Turning Point of the Vietnam War, using cell phones. There is no cost to this new, innovative service, other than a few minutes of cell time. The audio tours give information on various parts of Coplan's life and career as an art collector. On Jan. 31, the TET audio tour will discuss the causes and prosecution of the Vietnam War, and the massive 1968 attack known as the TET Offensive.
Graphic courtesy S.C. State Museum.