A three day workshop on ‘Digital Engagement of Museums’ was inaugurated by Shri G. S. Rautela, Director General, National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) at Central Research and Training Laboratory, Salt Lake, Kolkata. In his welcome address Shri Rautela said-‘New generation is equipped with smart gadgets like mobile phones which can act like a museum guide. As many museums in India are planning to go digital, this workshop will certainly help museum professionals to increase their reach by using digital technology.’ Smt. Sujata Sen, Director (Eastern India), British Council, India said ‘British Council is always ready to collaborate for any development project for museums in India’.

The workshop is organised by National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous organisation under Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India in collaboration with British Council. Museums professional from 33 different museums and science centres of India are participating in the workshop.

Two of the digital experts from UK namely Carolyn Royston and Charlotte Sexton is invited as a trainer of the workshop. On the first day, they highlighted ‘Why digital is important for museums’. In the first half, Carolyn emphasized on ‘Context and Background to digital evolution in museums-Local and Global’, Understanding roles and responsibilities for digital delivery etc.

In the second half, Charlotte Sexton advised on different channels of digital delivery like Websites, Mobile, In-Gallery Interactive, Blogs, Social Media etc. She also advised on identification of behaviour and needs of different types of audiences like families, students, enthusiasts, tourists, academics, teachers etc. She later on also elaborated on content development for different segments in a very interesting and engaging manner. Participant enjoyed the sessions and actively participated in the activities.

Tomorrow, the participants shall be taught with live exhibits demonstration and how to make them better at two of the well know centres under NCSM- Science City, Kolkata and Birla Industrial and Technological Museum (BITM), Kolkata.

Carolyn Royston is former head of Digital Media at Imperial War Museum, UK and Charlotte Sexton, is former head of Digital Media at National Gallery, London and present President at Museum Computer Network (MCN), UK.

It is expected that the workshop will pave ways for digital engagement of museums in India which is also need of the hour.

Other officials present on the occasion were-Shri A. S. Manekar, Deputy Director General, NCSM, Shri S. Chaudhuri, Director, Central Research and Training Laboratory, Shri S. Kumar, Director (Hqrs), Shri A. D. Chaudhury, Director, Science City, Kolkata, Shri E. Islam, Director, BITM, Kolkata and Shri Samarjit Guha, British Council.

Kolkata

22.09.2014