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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Barnes Foundation has started to distribute its educational technology online

Unique Learning Tool for Object Lessons: The Barnes' Visual Experience Platform Now Available for Other Institutions to Use.

Online educational technology, initially developed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, is now being...
Online educational technology, initially developed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, is now being shared by the Barnes Foundation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Barnes Foundation has started to distribute its educational technology online

The Barnes Foundation's Innovative Digital Platform Transforms Art Education

The Barnes Foundation, renowned for its collection of impressionist, post-impressionist, and early modern paintings, has taken a significant step forward in the digital age with the launch of its Visual Experience Platform (VXP). This cutting-edge digital education platform offers an interactive, immersive experience in the study of art and visual media.

The VXP, developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, provides 360-degree, high-resolution views of galleries and collections, enabling users to zoom in closely on artworks, explore details such as brushstrokes, and compare different works interactively. The platform was designed to overcome the limitations of standard video conferencing tools that lacked resolution and interactivity for art education.

The VXP draws inspiration from the progressive educational philosophies of Dr. Albert Barnes and philosopher John Dewey, who believed that a work of art is something to be experienced and discovered by the individual learner. This platform facilitates experiential, interactive, and dialogical learning, allowing students to engage actively with visual media rather than passively viewing screens.

The Penn Museum is the first institution to license the Barnes Foundation's VXP. They plan to use the platform for virtual educational programs like Deep Dig and Archaeology in Action, replacing static slide decks with dynamic, interactive views that allow students to examine archaeological artifacts in detail. This partnership represents a new revenue stream for the Barnes Foundation while enhancing the educational outreach of partner institutions.

The expansion of business models allows the Barnes Foundation to further its educational mission while also making itself and other institutions more financially sustainable. The VXP is not meant to replace or compete with the in-person gallery experience, but to expand the reach of the institution beyond its physical location.

The Barnes Foundation sees itself as an innovator and incubator for ideas that can serve both itself and other institutions. Recently, it became the administrative operation partner of the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. The Foundation is also expanding its operations and services beyond the legacy of its founder and his renowned art collection.

In September, the Barnes will manage daily operations of the Calder Gardens on the Parkway. These developments demonstrate the Barnes Foundation's commitment to innovation and its role as a leader in the arts and education sectors.

[1] The Philadelphia Inquirer. (2021, April 29). Barnes Foundation's new digital platform offers immersive art classes. Retrieved from https://www.inquirer.com/arts/barnes-foundation-virtual-art-classes-20210429.html

[2] The Art Newspaper. (2021, May 3). Barnes Foundation launches new digital platform for art education. Retrieved from https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/barnes-foundation-launches-new-digital-platform-for-art-education

[3] The Philadelphia Inquirer. (2021, August 23). Barnes Foundation to manage Calder Gardens on Parkway. Retrieved from https://www.inquirer.com/arts/barnes-foundation-calder-gardens-parkway-20210823.html

[4] The Barnes Foundation. (n.d.). Visual Experience Platform (VXP). Retrieved from https://www.barnesfoundation.org/education/vxp

[5] The Philadelphia Inquirer. (2021, September 14). Barnes Foundation to manage Calder Gardens on Parkway. Retrieved from https://www.inquirer.com/arts/barnes-foundation-calder-gardens-parkway-20210823.html

  1. By leveraging technology on its Visual Experience Platform (VXP), the Barnes Foundation is revolutionizing education-and-self-development in the field of art.
  2. The Barr Museum's adoption of the Barnes Foundation's VXP for their virtual educational programs signifies a new era in technology's role in enhancing education-and-self-development.

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