Hi Laurie,
I've mused this notion myself from time to time. I've been stowing away leads for who knows why, I still haven't done anything with it. I'm just a collector at heart I suppose. I wonder if all these options are still around and doing the function I was looking for. Anyway, here is a rundown of some options that may have been mentioned and hopefully a couple leads that could help:
Options geared toward museums specifically first, then some wider options which could also work for you:
Omeka:
Omeka is an open-source web publishing platform designed for cultural institutions and individuals.
It is particularly well-suited for creating digital exhibits and archives.
Omeka allows for the easy organization and display of multimedia content, including images and videos.
It offers customizable themes and has a user-friendly interface.
PastPerfect Online:
PastPerfect is a comprehensive museum management software, and it offers an online module for creating digital exhibits.
It is specifically designed for museums and historical societies.
PastPerfect Online allows for the integration of images, documents, and multimedia elements into exhibits.
It also includes cataloging features for museum collections.
Gallery Systems - EmbARK:
EmbARK is a collection management system by Gallery Systems that includes exhibition management capabilities.
It is tailored for museums and galleries, offering features for organizing and presenting exhibits.
EmbARK allows you to incorporate images, videos, and other multimedia content into your exhibits.
It can be integrated with collection management tools for a comprehensive museum solution.
CollectiveAccess:
CollectiveAccess is an open-source collections management and online exhibit software.
It is designed for museums, archives, and other cultural heritage institutions.
The platform supports multimedia content, and you can create exhibits with a variety of media types.
CollectiveAccess is customizable to suit the specific needs of your institution.
WordPress:
One of my favorites, I built MuseumTrade.org on Wordpress. It's really easy once you get the hang of it.
WordPress is a versatile platform with a wide range of themes and plugins.
It allows you to easily embed photos, videos, and audio files.
You can create multiple pages and organize content intuitively.
Many themes are customizable for design flexibility.
Wix:
Wix is known for its drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for beginners.
It supports multimedia elements, including photos, videos, and audio.
You can customize the design and layout to suit your preferences.
Wix offers a variety of templates to choose from.
Squarespace:
Squarespace is known for its clean and professional design templates.
It has built-in multimedia capabilities for images, videos, and audio.
Squarespace is user-friendly and offers a straightforward website building process.
You can create a visually appealing exhibit with ease.
Weebly:
Weebly is a simple and intuitive website builder.
It supports multimedia elements and allows for easy content organization.
You can choose from various themes and customize them to your liking.
Weebly offers a user-friendly interface for building and managing pages.
Format:
Format is a portfolio-focused platform that works well for exhibits.
It supports multimedia content, including images and videos.
The platform is designed for creatives and is easy to use.
You can showcase your content in a visually appealing manner.
Before making a decision, consider your specific needs, such as the ability to showcase multiple images on each detail page, and test out a few platforms to see which one aligns best with your requirements. Additionally, check the pricing plans and features of each platform to ensure it meets your budget and functionality expectations. For instance Wordpress.com is free and hosted by has fewer options than the wordpress.org path.
Good Luck, lets us know the path you chose, why, and hopfully you follow up with a link to your first end product!
Cheers,
Matt
------------------------------
Matthew Isble
Exhibit Designer & Founder of MuseumTrade.org
misble@crockerartmuseum.orgCrocker Art Museum
Sacramento CA
misble@crockerartmuseum.org------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 01-10-2024 09:03 AM
From: Laurie Sue Brockway
Subject: Best User-Friendly Website for Online Exhibits
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year!
I'd like to introduce myself. I am Laurie Sue Brockway, a student AAM member, finishing up my Master of Arts in Public History (MAPH) at SUNY. Prior to entering school, I worked as a journalist, editor, author, and officiant. I am working on blending my existing skills with my new skills as a public historian.
I am finishing up a project for school and I am looking for recommendations for a user-friendly and versatile website platform for building a web-based exhibit. I need about 100 pages to use as detail pages for images and content.
I was hoping for something with photo, video, and audio capacity that I can easily build myself and design myself. Something that has an intuitive organization capacity. I especially would like to be able to make the images larger and, if possible, offer more than one image on each detail page. It doesn't have to be fancy or glossy, though.
I've been using a web platform with 50 page capacity for exhibits because it is easy to size, upload, and organize content. It's a website builder for authors. But it is limited in that it does not allow video.
I am wondering if anyone has come across a site they find easy to use for exhibits.
Thanks so much for your ideas!
Blessings,
Laurie Sue
--
Laurie Sue Brockway
Author, Officiant, and SUNY MAPH Graduate Student