The University of Glasgow is spearheading the Museums in the Metaverse project, a augmented reality platform that allows users to access cultural venues online. The project, supported by Innovative UK, will enable curators to create materials using virtual reality tools. The project aims to promote sustainable economic and cultural development in Scotland.

• UK museums will take part in a transformative Metaverse plan led by Glasgow University.
• The Museums in the Metaverse project, an augmented reality platform that provides users with online access to cultural sites across the UK.
• The project, which is supported by Innovative UK, will also provide curators with the opportunity to create materials and tell stories using artefacts stored around the world using virtual reality tools for the first time.

The project Museums in the Metaverse is an augmented reality platform that provides users with online access to cultural venues across the UK, a venture that will be led by the University of Glasgow (UoG).

This project is supported by Innovative UK (British National Innovation Agency), which will also provide curators with the opportunity to create materials and tell stories using artefacts held around the world using virtual reality tools for the first time.

“This investment of £5.6 million in our Innovation Accelerator programme is helping the University of Glasgow build on its reputation for research into augmented reality while increasing opportunities for learners and curators and promoting UK innovation and culture around the world” – George Freeman, Minister of State at the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said.

The programme aims to explore methods to promote sustainable economic and cultural growth through collaboration with Historic Environment Scotland (HES), National Museums Scotland and the universities Edify technology platform.

“Scotland has pioneered digital applications in the realm of cultural heritage, and this project will continue to build on that.” – David Mitchell, director of cultural resources at HES, said. By using technology, this project will enhance the physical experience while opening up new opportunities for future engagement with our cultural heritage.

According to Neil McDonnell, head of the UoG programme, virtual museums would ‘enhance’ rather than ‘replace’ the experience of visiting museums by providing universal access to multiple locations.

“The implications of the project for the sector are transformational.” – Martin McDonnell, CEO of Edify, stated. Amazing digital travel experiences of previously unattainable scope and scale; learning and teaching using unique, special materials; and treasure troves of rich new digital artefacts for content creators. Deep access to hidden archives and collections for professionals and researchers.

The platform also aims to address limitations such as restrictions on the types of things museums can display. According to McDonnell, more than 90 per cent of collections must be kept in storage.

“Access to state-of-the-art photogrammetric equipment will be invaluable to the long-term development of the Hutterian’s digital capabilities and resources for an ever-widening audience” – said Maria Economou, Professor of digital cultural heritage at the Hutterian at the University of Glasgow, the oldest public museum in Scotland.

However, McDonnell stated that there are several difficulties in implementing this technology, such as the high cost of creating virtual worlds and the: “lack of technical skills” required to create  3D content.

There are over 500 museums in Scotland, but less than half of them are free.