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Museums work hard to provide the best environment for artwork so that it can both be seen, and be protected from the elements. Heat, light and humidity can all have disastrous effects on prints, paintings and even tapestries.

A new device created by the folks at IBM is giving museums a whole new level of sophistication when it comes to monitoring gallery conditions.

 - a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York - where the sensor is being tested out.

The data collected will help museum staff determine how best to accomodate for such anomalies as sun shining through a window onto a specific part of the room, a group of people walking into a gallery after being out in the rain, or a packed opening event.

An example of a small electronic sensor, like those  that will be deployed at the Cloisters Museum, is placed on a table next to a quarter to illustrate its size in New York. The new system will monitor the environment in the museum to help preserve the works of art within its walls. (AP Photo/Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Arts and Culture

State of the Arts Blog

Marianne Combs

Author

A new device is giving museums a leg up on fine-tuning gallery conditions.

Modern high-tech protects ancient high-art

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