My work with Guide-ID introducing audio guides to museums in North America and around the globe presents a remarkable opportunity to see first-hand how we are emerging from the pandemic. Since the start of 2022, we’ve participated in trade shows like the Virginia Association of Museums Conference (VAM) in Richmond, VA, the Ohio Museums Association Conference (OMA) in Cincinnati, OH and the American Alliance of Museums Conference (AAM) in Boston, MA. It is so wonderful to be finally getting back to seeing our work colleagues, our clients, and our prospects in person once again.
Challenges
The pandemic has certainly presented enormous challenges for the museum sector, but you can sense that the tide is turning and that new opportunities are springing forth. As I’ve traveled to these conferences, I’ve visited many museums and historic sites along the way of course. It appears that through March 2022, attendance at many sites I visited continued to be light. However, starting in April 2022, you could sense a real change in what’s been happening. Masks have been coming off in droves and life really is returning to normal in many respects. Airline travel is setting records and I also began traveling internationally for both work and pleasure. Aside from the trade shows locales, I’ve managed to visit museums and historic sites in New York City, Washington, DC, Toronto, ON and London, England.
All in all, what I’m seeing is that tourists are back in a big way which obviously spells good news for the museum sector. Many museums that I’ve visited are swarming with visitors. That includes my time at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The British Museum, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Windsor Castle among others. I’ve also witnessed many of their visitors experiencing audio tours and clearly enjoying the storytelling that emanates from these amazing venues.
The aftermath
Now that summer has arrived, I hope that all of you can spring forth from the shackles of Covid and enjoy the world of arts and culture in your neighborhood or around the world. It certainly appears that many of your friends and neighbors are doing just that, so let’s all get back to doing the things we love and cherish. Hope to see many of you on the road and long live museums, and historic sites, remembering our past, celebrating our future, and enjoying The Art of Listening!