Margate Museum will become the first in Kent to install an app that allows a visitor with a smartphone or tablet to aim the device at a designated spot and watch a still scene come into life.
The Augmented Reality App, which is in use at the British Museum, has the technology to create graphics, animations and videos to be layered on top of real environments, which provides a way for museums to bring collections to life.
Created by GAMAR the app can be used for family trails, educational games and interactive audio tours.
The British Museum has the GAMAR app for its Gift for Athena game. This includes stepping back over 2,000 years to the land of ancient Athens and progressing through four challenges, set by Boreas, the god of the north wind.
With each mission, the user delves deeper into the history of the Parthenon, discovers its secrets, stories and statues, and saves the day by returning a beautiful gift for the goddess Athena.
Margate Museum is home to Iron Age skeletons, Roman remains, Punch and Judy puppets, seaside donkeys, sea bathing and other seaside ephemera. Set over two floors, the venue also houses collections giving a unique insight into the development of the town, and the people who have lived there, from its earliest beginnings to the present day.
This year will also see the Wasteland project, in partnership with Turner Contemporary, looking at the famous poem and its author TS Eliot.
There will also be an exhibition on 100 years since women aged over 30 gained the vote, with details of how Margate featured in that struggle.
The potential with the app is to bring all these events to life with animation, games and videos.
Margate Museum director and trustee Ian Dickie said: “Margate Museums Trust are the first organisation in Kent to install this system, due to the generosity of a sponsor. We are really excited about its potential, particularly as an essential aid to disabled visitors.”
The app is due to be installed by the end of this month.
Where/when/ how much
Margate Museum
The Old Police Station/Court
Market Place
Winter opening hours (October – April)
Wednesday 11.30am to 2.30pm
Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm
Admission
Adults £2
Seniors £1.50
Under 16s Free
Call 01843 231213 or click here for the facebook page