Year of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Anthropology

Department or School/College

Anthropology

Committee Chair

Gregory Campbell

Commitee Members

Kelly Dixon, Wade Davies

Keywords

virtual museum, virtual exhibit

Subject Categories

Museum Studies

Abstract

The prevalence of virtual museums has grown in recent years and this relatively new exhibition format has presented the museum field with opportunities for growth. In an effort to explore the virtual sphere as an effective avenue for museum growth and change, I conduct an analysis of what virtual museums are, the challenges they pose, and the benefits they can provide to museum education. Case studies of University of California Chico, University of New Mexico, University of Arizona, and University of Nevada Reno’s virtual exhibition of materials from each university’s anthropology collections serves to further the exploration of the efficacy of virtual museums. Informed by the critical analysis of virtual museums and the case studies, I created a prototype draft for a virtual exhibit of baskets from the University of Montana Anthropological Curation Facility. This project serves to showcase the potential of virtual museums to increase accessibility and engage visitors for a more interactive learning experience.

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© Copyright 2023 Monica D. Lusnia