News

Kiosk links museums in South Africa, Russia

July 1, 2002

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - A technology initiative developed by IBM to create an international digital art gallery has made its debut at the South Africa National Gallery in Cape Town.

Visitors to the gallery now have access to a touchscreen kiosk that displays a selection of 3,000 works from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. The kiosk is free of charge to the public.

The kiosk features displays from the museum's art, sculpture, and other exhibits. Viewers can access the information in six languages, and can use a zoom-in feature to get a closer look at the works on display.

Marilyn Martin, director of art collections for Iziko Museums, which administers the National Gallery, told South Africa's Business Day newspaper that the kiosk was vital to South African art technology efforts.