Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art offers podcasts

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art has now introduced podcasts as a new aspect of the multimedia, especially in the museum world. A year-long project by University of Oregon students, allows visitors to experience art through their ears. Podcasts are now being introduced at this campus museum.

Starting February 14, the museum offered what they call “I-Tours,” podcasts that would act as a museum tour that would explain background information on many art pieces in the museum. The narrator in the I-Tour explains the architecture of the building and exhibits as well as extensive information on the art exhibits.

The younger generation that is now in college, adapts well to the use of modern technology to complement an old-fashioned experience, “it’s a new wave of museums,” said interim Director Robert Melnick.

This new experience will cost the museum as much as $50,000.

Podcats plan to be updated three times a year and are currently available for downloads on the museum’s Web site, where people planning to attend the museum prior are able to download. For those who do not own an IPOD, the museum is offering IPOD nanos for checking out.

The museum is also looking for inputs to the podcasts; they are encouraging input via email at itour@uoregon.edu. The current podcasts offer perspectives from community members, University students, faculty, and alumni.