The National Gallery, London, today unveiled their new interactive multimedia system called ArtStart. The Sainsbury Wing will house twelve new interactive kiosks, which will increase to 36 by the end of 2005.

Interactive displays have been a part of museums and galleries for about two decades but have rarely been successful at augmenting the visiting experience. In almost every gallery or museum, you will probably find one located in a small, neglected corner attracting occasional visitors. With a touch screen display or trackball, visitors will usually sit at it for a few minutes before leaving, disappointed by the whole experience.

The National Gallery has spent three years of careful planning and development creating ArtStart, in collaboration with digital agency NYKRIS. The initial reception seems positive as ArtStart has already been shortlisted in the design category for the prestigious BAFTA interactive awards. The gallery hopes it will change the visiting experience for the better.

ArtStart allows visitors to browse the entire 2,300-strong collection of the gallery and view pictures that have been digitised on a 100-megapixel camera. Dr John Cupitt, of the gallery’s scientific department stated: “The 100-megapixel camera is calibrated against international colour standards, as are the screens. So what you see on the screen is very close to how the painting actually looks.” In addition, visitors can zoom in and examine any section of any painting with remarkable detail.

Visitors can learn background information on all of the paintings with specially written in-depth explorations of the gallery’s thirty most popular works. Users can also plot their own unique tour around the gallery, focusing on themes or their favourite artists and paintings.

The system has been designed to be an integral part of the National Gallery experience, so there are no plans for ArtStart to go online. Steve Dale, deputy head of new media at the National Gallery, said: “We didn’t want something that felt like a bolt on to the side of the gallery. Ultimately, we want it to make people go back to the paintings as it’s never been designed as a substitute for the painting themselves.”

Though some may doubt the installation of interactive displays, the new zoom and other features will certainly allow visitors get closer to works of art without the worry of being warned by eagle-eyed security guards.