A touchscreen can be used in many ways. You’ll see them in hotel lobbies, where they serve as information centers. Tap in to find restaurants, attractions, the local airport. Check the local weather. At corporate headquarters, these touchscreens relay important news to employees–where’s that next meeting, what’s on the menu in the cafeteria; when are the health insurance reps coming in to talk about coverage.

A modern solution

Intersect Creative, our in-house digital agency, recently found another way to put a large touchscreen to work. We helped the Lexington Art League (LAL) use one in its gallery to promote Artist Archive, its online directory of local artists. Intersect helped design and develop the site, by the way.

Blending the old with the new

First, LAL launched a traditional art exhibit that featured works by 50 of the artists who are in the Artist Archive. Intersect set up the large touchscreen in the gallery as well, so that visitors could tap in and see works of the other 150 artists who are part of the online directory. The archive has pictures of artists and their work as well as stories and interviews.

Thinking off the wall

Thanks so the touchscreen, the art exhibit expanded without needing more walls or gallery space. The many local artists who attended the exhibit got to see the Artist Archive and how it works. It also exposed Lexington art lovers to the many artists who are working in the area, both through the exhibit and through the Archive via the touchscreen.

Standing out in the crowd

LAL executive director Stephanie Harris said her organization was pleased with the response the touchscreen received. LAL is now thinking about making a touchscreen a permanent part of the gallery because of the interactive education opportunities and access to the archive that it would provide. “The more dynamic you can be in our field the better,” she said. “It was a little extra touch that was really nice.”