Knight Foundation Awards $1.87M to 12 US Museums for Tech Innovation

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has allocated $1.87 million to twelve American museums to integrate new technologies and enhance visitor engagement. Each institution received funding for a specific digital project. The New Museum in New York received the largest grant of $250,000 to develop technology for increasing and managing visitor numbers. The Institute of Contemporary Art Miami got $200,000 for video content creation. The Akron Art Museum in Ohio received $173,329 for a virtual guided tour project called "The Curator Is In." The Barnes Foundation in Merion Station, Pennsylvania, obtained $155,000 to create a search engine based on form, light, and color. The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh acquired $150,000 for instant messaging communication with visitors. The Detroit Institute of Arts received $150,000 for augmented reality and 3D animation. The Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, got $150,000 for interactive public art using sound and light. The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago received $150,000 for the Coyote Project, making art accessible to the blind via audio tracks. The Pérez Art Museum Miami obtained $150,000 for an augmented reality app. The Minneapolis Institute of Art received $148,800 for its digital storytelling platform. The Museum of Arts and Sciences got approximately $100,000 for the FullDome Festival. The Vizcaya Museums and Gardens in Miami received $100,000 for augmented reality and 3D tours of inaccessible areas.