The Metropolitan Museum of Art is embarking on a digital journey into the metaverse, collaborating with Verizon to introduce the Replica app. This innovative application empowers users to interact with artworks from the museum's collection within virtual environments, primarily in the popular gaming platform Roblox. The digital Met offers players a chance to explore a virtual rendition of the museum, featuring iconic areas such as its Fifth Avenue facade and Great Hall.
This project builds upon the Met's previous partnership with Verizon from 2021, which provided remote access to a select group of artworks. The Replica app, which is available on iOS and Android devices, is designed to enhance the cultural and educational experience for children and young adults. By encouraging in-person visits, the museum aims to attract more visitors, as it experienced a significant drop in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Roblox, users can transform the museum's art treasures into digital accessories and deploy them throughout the virtual world. This not only allows players to personalize their avatars but also turns them into curators, letting them choose digital objects for display. The Met's choice to collaborate with Roblox aligns with its strategy to engage younger audiences through digital platforms, as Roblox is popular among age groups under 24. Other museums have also adopted similar approaches, exploring the use of games and immersive experiences to make art education more engaging.
