Museum Victoria has been recognised for the use of cutting-edge new technology in exhibition design with an American Association of Museums Gold MUSE Award.
Premier and Minister for the Arts Ted Baillieu said this year’s award follows a win at the MUSE awards in 2010 for the development of new exhibition technology used in Wild: Amazing Animals in a Changing World.
“It is wonderful that Museum Victoria has taken out the top award again this year, beating out hundreds of entries from major museums and art galleries all over the world,” Mr Baillieu said.
“This award recognises the global leadership of Museum Victoria in the development of new interactive technologies.”
“Museum Victoria is constantly finding new and interesting ways for visitors of all ages to engage with our collections and exhibitions,” said Dr. Patrick Greene, CEO, Museum Victoria. “We are delighted to receive global recognition for our innovative use of multimedia technology in exhibitions”.
The MUSE Awards were presented on Sunday night, 22 May (US time) in Houston, Texas as part of the American Association of Museums Annual Conference. The awards receive entries from major museums and art galleries from all over the world. Museum Victoria received the Gold MUSE award for its Rio Tinto Volcanic 3D in AVIE by iCinema UNSW, a state-of-the-art 360-degree fully immersive and interactive 3D cinema exhibit in the Dynamic Earth exhibition at Melbourne Museum.
“In Volcanic 3D, visitors can experience being surrounded by an active volcano, travelling down a lava tunnel and journeying under the sea. This new technology provides a stimulating and enjoyable way to access additional information about the geological processes of the Earth,” said Dr Greene.
Dynamic Earth reveals the powerful forces that fuel volcanic eruptions, cause earthquakes and create thousands of different minerals, gems, and precious metals. The exhibition demonstrates the natural processes that shape our planet and explores what rocks and minerals can tell us about the Earth’s history.
Inside Volcanic 3D, visitors can experience scientifically accurate computer animations of a variety of volcanic activities. The computer animations are projected on the inside of a cylindrical screen by 12 projectors creating a seamless 360-degree image. Visitors interact with the animation by standing on glowing circles scattered throughout the space. These activate video and animations providing further information on the geological phenomenon.
“When you walk through Dynamic Earth you regularly hear the excitement of visitors inside Volcanic 3D” said Kathy Fox, Exhibition Producer. “It is the closest thing to a live active volcano.”
Museum Victoria prides itself on the collaborations it establishes to produce innovative exhibits like the Rio Tinto Volcanic 3D in AVIE by iCinema UNSW. Museum staff worked closely with the team behind AVIE from iCinema at the University of New South Wales, as well as creative Victorian companies Act3Animation who designed the incredible visuals; and Wax Sound Media for their intense 12-channel surround sound design. This groundbreaking project was made possible with the generous support of Rio Tinto.
Dynamic Earth is the final phase of the redevelopment of Melbourne Museum’s Science and Life Gallery. The completed redevelopment is the most comprehensive natural science display in any Australian museum and features more than 3,000 objects from the Museum’s collections, many on display for the first time.
The MUSE Awards are open to member institutions from across the world that use digital media to enhance the museum experience and engage new audiences; celebrating innovation, creativity and inclusivity.