The annual art show provides an opportunity to showcase student talent and connect with the community. It’s a culmination of all the hard work your students put into their artwork and your effort to organize, curate, and display it all! Encourage viewers to stay and enjoy all of this dedication by providing self-paced audio guides. Plus, it’s always a win to have a parent hear their child’s voice describe the inspiration and techniques in their own artwork.
Unlock how audio tours will benefit your art show!
Audio tours help the artists and the audience at the art show.
Museums create title cards, offer docent-led tours, and facilitate audio tours to give visitors information about the work beyond what is visible. This helps viewers gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the artistic achievements on display! The same can be true for your art show.
Recording an audio tour also prompts deeper learning for students. Challenge students to articulate their thoughts about their artwork. It makes for a more impactful experience when the students explain their art in their own words. It’s also a great advocacy tool for your art program! Students fully lean into the Present standard, and it’s a powerful way to demonstrate how visual art promotes valuable critical thinking and communication skills.
Audio tours help the audience long after the art show is over.
Virtual tours live beyond the physical display. Share the recorded audio clips with images of each artwork or as a video tour to make the show accessible for loved ones unable to attend the art show in person. It’s also a great product to send to stakeholders in the community. Further, it provides a record of quality student work to use as examples or as evidence in your professional portfolio.
Give your art show a museum-grade audio tour using free tools and these six easy steps.
1. Make a plan to make it happen.
Give yourself a clear target for success. Pick and choose a few realistic goals you and your students can work on for this year’s art show. Then, feel free to ramp it up each year as you gain experience and your students build skills. If you’re just starting out and your students don’t have a lot of recording experience, select a few students to record a short clip about a section of the art show. If you’ve got a good grasp on your art show and your students have recorded before, require each of them to record a statement about their personal favorite piece or their collection of work as a whole.
2. A good script can be your best friend.
Spontaneity is great in everyday conversation, but it is not ideal for recording. Many students freeze up or ramble in front of a microphone. Set students up for success and give them a structure to craft a script with sentence stems and a word bank. Encourage practice to boost confidence and fluency before recording. This preparation makes the recording process smoother and ensures a higher-quality product.
3. Edit audio like a pro with free platforms.
Many devices come with complimentary software to record and edit audio. These platforms are often very user-friendly and simple to use. You may find that many of your students can intuitively navigate it without much instruction! Your district may also have access to additional paid software, so be sure to reach out to your school’s technology coordinator.
Additionally, many professional-level editing companies, such as Adobe, have a free version of their most popular applications, such as Adobe Podcast. These free versions are also incredibly user-friendly and often include “how-to” guides and automatic audio transcription. Many of these platforms are online, so students can access them from anywhere.
4. Complement your audio with a video walk-through.
After recording audio guides for different stations within the art show, record a video tour of the show. Simply combine all of the audio files into one track, then grab your phone, and record a quick video as you walk through the displays. Listen to the audio while you walk through the art show to ensure the timing of the audio and video align. Use your favorite video software to combine the audio and video files. Then, share the video link in your emails, flyers, and other art show communication.
5. Use social media to expand the reach of your art show.
The Art of Ed Community would love to see your art show! Post pictures and links so your virtual colleagues can cheer and learn from your success. On other platforms, you can create a dedicated hashtag for your show and encourage attendees to share their experiences by using the hashtag when they post. This not only expands the reach of your program but also creates a digital archive of student work. By thinking beyond the physical walls of your classroom or gallery, you elevate your art show into a memorable event that resonates with a wider audience and demonstrates the importance of art education in the 21st century.
6. Ask for help.
Creating an epic art show can get overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. Parent volunteers are invaluable in the art show process. They can assist with organizing digital files, hanging QR codes to listen to the audio of each artwork, and greeting guests with audio tour instructions. Put students “to work” so they can learn the ins and outs of making an audio tour from start to finish. Many colleagues also love to help out during their planning period or after school—you just have to ask!
Embrace technology to transform a traditional art show into an interactive and shareable experience you and your students will remember for years to come. Just like museums, use audio tours to empower your students, engage your audience, and advocate for your program in a powerful way. Set achievable goals, compose scripts, and use free editing platforms. Level up your art show from a simple display to a dynamic celebration of creativity and learning that is accessible to all.
How do you integrate technology into your art show?
Have you tried an audio tour before? Let us know how it went!
To chat about art shows with other art teachers, join us in The Art of Ed Community!
Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.
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