Glenn Ligon: All Over the Place at The Fitzwilliam Museum

A practical guide for museums and galleries (2025)

How to create a virtual exhibition

Producing 3D virtual exhibitions and museums since 2017, as part of the wider digital life of institutional collections.

1. Define the purpose

Start with intent. Virtual exhibitions support three core objectives:

  • Accessibility – reaching audiences who cannot attend in person
  • Audience growth – expanding engagement globally
  • Archive – preserving curatorial projects long-term

2. Gather exhibition materials

  • Object list
  • Artwork images
  • Video or audio files
  • Curatorial texts, labels, essays
  • Floor plans or dimensions of physical spaces

For museum objects, collect side and detail photographs suitable for 3D reconstruction.

3. Choose the virtual exhibition format

V21 Artspace offers three primary formats:

  • 3D Virtual Exhibition (CGI) – complete digital recreation
  • Photogrammetric Virtual Exhibition – real-world capture
  • Hybrid – CGI space + photogrammetry objects

4. Build the environment

The digital space is constructed using 3D modelling software.

  • Gallery architecture
  • Lighting design
  • Material simulations
  • Navigation pathways

Spatial decisions should reflect curatorial intention.

5. Integrate artworks and objects

Placed with precise scaling and proximity, using real measurements.

  • Min. 2000px images
  • Camera metadata preserved
  • Orientation and lighting match the physical exhibition

6. Add interpretative content

  • Wall texts
  • Audio guides
  • Video interviews
  • BSL/ASL content
  • Multi-language captions
  • Research essays

The aim is to replicate and enhance the visitor experience.

7. Quality assurance

Test navigation, media playback, browser compatibility and accessibility features. Confirm:

  • Screen reader support
  • Keyboard navigation
  • Contrast and legibility
  • Adaptive scaling

8. Publish and archive

Virtual exhibitions can be embedded on museum websites or hosted on v21artspace.com with long-term archiving.

Related guides and services

Digital partner to institutions and their collections

Ready to start your virtual exhibition?

V21 Artspace is the digital partner for museums, galleries, libraries, archives and collection-holding organisations, in the gallery, online and for the long term. 3D access is where we go deepest.