This fall, Weisman Art Museum (WAM) has launched a new service to enhance visitors’ access to the artwork and information in the gallery, in ways that best suit their needs — whether they’re low/no vision, socially anxious, a non-native English-speaker, or simply prefer to reread and revisit information on their own. 

WAM is just the second museum to partner with Twin Cities-based start-up Capption to offer this service. (American Swedish Institute also piloted Capption in some of their galleries earlier this year.)

Capption is a web-based platform that provides instant translation of exhibition information into more than 100 languages, as well as adjustments of text size, and alt text for artwork in the galleries. Verbal description and audio is on the horizon shortly as well. Visitors don’t need to download a separate app or scan a QR code to use Capption. Instead, it works through an embedded NFC (near-field communication) tag in the wall label. It’s as simple as the “tap and pay” feature on your credit card, instantly connecting your phone to the art and information.

"WAM is the art museum for the University of Minnesota, serving a diverse and international community," says Katherine Covey Spanier, Director of Public Engagement and Learning. "Our visitors come from many backgrounds, speak multiple languages, and have a wide range of abilities and needs."

"Accessibility isn’t just important," she says, "it’s essential for public cultural institutions like ours. We want to make sure everyone feels welcome at WAM and has the opportunity to engage with the art and ideas that make a museum visit meaningful."

Visitors hold their smartphone up to the label next to artwork information marked with a “C”, and Capption’s platform responds by loading the artwork information onto their device, automatically rendered according to the user settings already indicated by their phone. For example, if your phone’s preferences are set to Spanish, with large-size text, once you tap your phone to the “C” label, the artwork information will automatically appear on your device in large-print, Spanish text. While Capption is compatible with most iPhone and Android devices, there are smartphones at the museum’s front desk for those who need to borrow one during their visit to take advantage of the new service.

Practically speaking, Capption allows visitors to control their own learning experience:

• Adjust the size of text to make information easier to read
• Pinch to zoom in and out on details in images
• Instantly translate artwork information into 136 languages
• Find alt text and image description
• Save your scan history on your phone, so you can revisit the information, on- or off-site.

“Visiting the Weisman with Capption installed was the best experience I've ever had at a museum. I have low vision, and my disability has always made visiting exhibit spaces stressful,” says Capption co-founder Sherman Bausch. “With Capption, I was able to take my time, move to where I was comfortable, and read at my pace with no anxiety. I left elevated, relaxed, and inspired!” 

Bausch goes on, “Weisman Art Museum clearly champions equity, access, community and learning. The WAM team values every visitor, and prioritizes inclusion in everything they do. Capption seems like a natural extension of their excellent work. It's an honor to be a part of the Weisman story.”