Montclair State student using the Bloomberg Connects app to access virtual content about the latest exhibition.
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Montclair State University Galleries has partnered with Montclair State’s School of Communication and Media (SCM) and Bloomberg Philanthropies to enrich the visitor experience online and in-person. This digital expansion is in line with the University Galleries’ mission to present diverse and inclusive exhibitions and programs creating connections that unite the campus experience with local and global communities.
The University Galleries launched a new digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and cultural app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Bloomberg Connects app, available for download from Google Play or the App Store, makes the University Galleries accessible for either onsite or offsite visits through photo, audio and video features offering insights into past and current exhibitions from artists, curators, professors, students, and more.
Bloomberg Connects offers free digital guides to cultural organizations around the world. The app platform is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ longstanding commitment to supporting digital innovation in the arts. Bloomberg Connects makes it easy to access and engage with arts and culture from mobile devices when visiting in person, or anytime from anywhere. With dynamic content exclusive to each partner organization, the app provides a range of features including video, audio, and text; expert commentary; and way-finding maps.
Further expanding the University Galleries’ digital presence is the newly developed “Arts” category on the School of Communication and Media’s free digital streaming platform Hawk+. The new vertical will showcase the University Galleries’ past and current programming. Viewers can watch short exhibition trailers, performances, tours, artist talks, readings, and more.
These partnerships take the hands-on learning experiences offered by the University Galleries and brings them into a virtual space. Students have the opportunity to interview exhibiting artists, capture footage at events at exhibitions, collaborate with the University Galleries’ student educators to produce short documentaries, promotional material, and more.
Director Megan C. Austin said, “Making art accessible doesn’t mean only for those who have the privilege of viewing it in-person, but for anyone who may be interested in art and our community. We want to meet people where they are through technology offerings across media, language, and time. Those components are critical to the future of the art world.”
Austin began her tenure in February 2020, only a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the University and cultural spaces across the globe. “Upon my arrival it became clear that the new vision would make our digital footprint as impactful as our physical one,” says Austin.
Last year, Engagement and Outreach Coordinator Alyssa Leslie Villasenõr joined the Galleries staff to implement these new initiatives. “Expanding the Galleries’ inclusivity efforts has been a top priority,” Villasenõr said. “We’ve developed audio descriptions to make artwork accessible to visually impaired audiences, but anyone can listen to these descriptions to learn new insights about the art we present. We’ve also translated our exhibition materials into Spanish and plan on increasing the number of languages we make available. Working with faculty, staff, and other partners on projects connecting us to in-person and virtual audiences has been a privilege.”
The release of the University Galleries on Bloomberg Connects and Hawk+ coincides with the recent openings of their spring exhibitions: Caroline Garcia’s Dancing on Axes and Spears on view in the Segal Gallery until April 21, and Case Studies 2: Justin Cloud – The Garden on view in the Kasser Theater lobby until July 31. Both exhibitions are curated by Jesse Bandler Firestone, Curator and Exhibition Coordinator, University Galleries. Visitors are encouraged to subscribe to Hawk+ and download the digital guide to learn more about these exhibitions.
Subscribe to Hawk+ and stay up to date on programs and events on campus at hawkplus.tv.
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 941 cities and 173 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2021, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $1.66 billion.
The Montclair State University Galleries brings together ideas, perspectives and dialogues to foster curiosity and shared understandings through art. The University Galleries presents diverse and inclusive exhibitions and programs creating connections that unite the campus experience with local and global communities.
