29th June 2015
Selfie Culture Gets A Little More … Cultured
Anyone who has ever been to a museum knows about their strict “no photography” rules. From fossil exhibits to art galleries, you’re sure to see signs that read, “No, Photography Please.” But as smartphones continue to advance and as more and more people turn to social media, museums like the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (2001 Colorado Blvd) have begun to relax that policy a little, even encourage it in some cases.
Because of the ever-valuable word of mouth marketing that comes from selfies and use of social media, museums have begun to see a benefit in allowing photography within their exhibits.
To add a little insight into how this best benefits museums, we spoke to Maura O’Neal, Communications and Media Relations Manager at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Innovator’s Peak: What led to some local museums’ decision to allow, even encourage, photography or selfies within museum exhibits?
Maura O’Neal: I can’t speak for all museums, but the Denver Museum of Nature and Science works to encourage photography whenever possible while maintaining its high standards of care for its collection items and ensuring a positive experience for all guests. Humans are naturally social beings; we want to share our experiences with others. Photography paired with the immediate ability to share images and other information through social media platforms helps us satisfy this desire. For us, encouraging the use of photography immediately creates thousands of ambassadors who aren’t just telling people what a great time they had at the Museum, they are showing people what a great time they are having in near-real time. That’s powerful.