Playing with Art

During the last decade and a half, a revolution has been under way in London's public museums and galleries. Lucy Bullivant explains how the digital has emancipated institutions from their previous physical constrictions, enabling artworks to break out from behind glass and liberating artefacts from their sealed cabinets. The perception of permanent collections is being transformed, as visitors are encouraged to make new connections between objects and break down physical distances between separate gallery spaces. Another new level of interaction is being encouraged by specially commissioned installations that encourage the user to physically engage with art. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.