Take a tour through some of the world’s most famous exhibits with #MuseumWeek

Museums offer a space to admire, critique and reflect on the work of artists past and present, but sometimes we forget about the joys of art and history amidst the ease of social media satiation. So museums are bringing it all to you on Twitter, Vine and Periscope for Museum Week, which started Monday.

While the hashtag persists throughout the week, each day has its own unique theme that encourages museums to share different kinds of exhibits or interesting facts. Monday’s theme was #SecretsMW, in which museums shared secret gems and behind-the-scenes information.

Now in its third year, the collaboration between Twitter and the arts has attracted more than 3,000 participating museums from more than 69 countries around the world. In previous years, Twitter has been the only social media platform involved in Museum Week, but this year’s Museum Week is getting some video treatment from Twitter-developed platforms Vine and Periscope, bringing a new depth to the seven-day event.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York City did a private, educational tour of its Jackson Pollock exhibit on Periscope, allowing people who are tuned into #MuseumWeek to get a look and learn a bit about the work of the famous painter. This is a part of Tuesday’s #PeopleMW theme that focuses on individuals, founders and staff members that helped make the museum what it is.

“[The Pollock exhibit] is pulling exclusively from our collection,” MoMA digital marketing manager Gretchen Scott told Mashable. “The exhibition really aims to show the trajectory of Pollock’s career, from what he was doing when he first started out at art school to his most iconic drip paintings, and how you can see some of the traces of that technique at the beginning of his career and how it builds up.”

Something Museum Week brings attention to is the fact that museums aren’t just doing this kind of social engagement this week — some post pictures and videos like these all the time. The MoMA has streamed Periscope videos that have included talks with a restorer who worked on Pollock paintings and the designer of the rainbow flag, Gilbert Baker.

Museums aren’t just doing this kind of social engagement this week — some post pictures and videos like these all the time

“Museum Week in particular brings attention to the fact that all these great museums are on the platforms sharing their exhibits, pictures and information on a constant basis,” Twitter VP of North American media Kirstine Stewart told Mashable. “By putting it all together in a special week, you celebrate the fact that you can travel the world and visit any museum through your phone.”

Through social media, museums get to show what they have to offer to the public, and even allow people who are half a world away to enjoy and learn about certain pieces they may not otherwise get a chance to see.

“There’s so much competition in the world now, with other forms of entertainment with movies and social media and stuff, that I think Museum Week is a special chance for us to remind people of the power of museums and the power of art,” Scott said. “We want to give people that moment to be educated or to pause or reflect and look at something beautiful in their feed.”

BONUS: Interactive museums puts visitors in the art

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