How is network technology being used by art museums in presenting and communicating information about works of art, both those executed in traditional media as well as new media? The intent of this thesis is to consider how the introduction of network technology in museum practice approximately four years ago has affected communication strategies related to the art museum's interpretation and education activities. There are several premises upon which my thesis is based. The first is that communication and information technology, specifically the Internet and World Wide Web, provide new opportunities for art institutions in their educational, exhibition and research activities. The second premise is that information technology presents yet another challenge to how the art museum is defined and will affect, to an ever greater degree, its function and architecture. This study traces the development of technology and interactive multimedia features used in presentations by art museums on the World Wide Web, examines the use of information technology by art museums in their education programs, and visits several recently built art museums that are committed to incorporating these new technologies within their physical spaces.

Palmyre Pierroux

University of Oslo, 1998