Museums Go Online to Prevent Spread of Covid-19

Jakarta. The Education and Culture Ministry has temporarily closed off museums to prevent the spread of Covid-19. But people can still access the content of several museums and cultural heritage sites in Indonesia on Google's digital platform.

"To prevent the spread of Covid-19, museums, galleries and cultural heritage sites are temporarily closed," Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim said in a written statement in Jakarta on Monday.

He also said the Education and Culture Ministry is collaborating with Google to feature content from museums and cultural heritage sites on the Google Arts & Culture Platform.

The platform uses new technologies called Art Camera and Google Cardboard that allow people to see artifacts and artworks in the museums.

A virtual reality experience is also available on smartphones is you use the Google Arts & Culture application – available on both Android and iOS.

"Using the application, you can explore the Sangiran Museum of Ancient Man and the National Museum. You can also tour the Borobudur Temple, the Prambanan Temple or the Ratu Boko Temple with a 360-degree Virtual Tour," the director-general of cultural affairs at the Education and Culture Ministry, Hilmar Farid, said.

Google Arts & Culture also includes several educational tools and resources for teachers and students. The educational videos are available on its own dedicated YouTube channel and also embedded on the Google Arts & Culture web page, which also offers many other interactive activities.

"We hope this digital platform can make learning at home during the temporary closure of schools less boring," Hilmar said.