Major European museums discover digital transition doesn't always come naturally

Just like Rodin's sculpture 'The Thinker', the art world is still figuring out how to go beyond VR glasses and make the digital makeover a sustainable solution. Photo: Handout

From virtual visits and augmented reality artworks to TikTok videos filmed in hidden corners, museums have turned massively to digital tools and technology to maintain contact with would-be visitors during periods of Covid-19 restrictions.

However, new European research reveals that many are still struggling in the race for digital transition. The figures speak for themselves: Paris's famous Louvre museum saw a 72% drop in visitors last year. An alarming figure for the French institution, which welcomed some 9.6 million visitors in 2019. And it isn't the only museum suffering the effects of the pandemic, according to the Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO).