National Gallery makes the leap into technological future
The National Gallery is making a technological leap from the dark ages to the modern day, thank to the precious funds of the European Union’s Information Society, which is aimed at promoting the development of internal markets for electronic communications networks and services. While just up until a few months ago the National Gallery did not even have a fully functioning website, today it is revolutionizing its technology; a step that should be a given for all Greek state institutions. The gallery’s technological advancement will take place in two phases. The first, which is budgeted at a total of 1 million euros and which is expected to be completed by the end of the month, includes the digital filing of the gallery’s collections (2,180 works have been entered into the database), setting up a proper website and publishing four interactive CD-Roms that can take virtual visitors around the permanent displays, provide detailed accounts of the work, showcase the Greek topography and serve as educational tools for children. The website is currently in an experimental phase with photographs of the permanent collection, while soon the public can expect the CD-Roms to be uploaded as well. The second phase of the plan was made possible by the association Friends of the National Gallery, which succeeded in procuring an additional 900,000 euros. Expected to be ready by early 2008, this phase of the plan hopes to create virtual tours of the temporary exhibitions as well as to allow users to create their own virtual exhibition space in which they can display their personal selections of the gallery’s holdings. Furthermore, the National Gallery is also setting up an area for educational activities.
