An Instagrammer lines up a shot in The Charles Engelhard Court. All photographs courtesy Bloomberg Philanthropies
«On Monday, February 2, I was thrilled to be a part of a Bloomberg Philanthropies–hosted "Instameet," an event bringing together people who use Instagram for a whirlwind session of picture-taking. I found myself among some wonderful Museum colleagues, staff from Bloomberg Philanthropies, and some of the most influential Instagramers in New York City.»
The event was in celebration of Bloomberg Connects, an initiative that aims to support the development of state-of-the-art technology designed to transform the visitor experience at cultural institutions. Anita Contini, program lead for art and culture at Bloomberg, who greeted attendees at the start of the event, commented: "It's undeniable that the Instagram community has changed the way we view and share art. The Instameet brought this group together, allowing them to form personal connections and giving them a chance to share their experience with others. It reinforces the mission of Bloomberg Connects, our program providing museums with the digital tools to enhance cultural experiences."
Following a brief reception in the Members Balcony Lounge, the Museum's Chief Digital Officer Sree Sreenivasan led the group on a tour of the Museum. As we walked through the galleries, Sree paused to tell the group about works in the collection and shared insights he had learned from curatorial staff. His words were inspiring and often quite funny.
Chief Digital Officer Sree Sreenivasan leads the group through the Egyptian Galleries.
When we got to The Charles Engelhard Court in The American Wing, the ohs and ahs were in high supply. As someone who has worked at the Museum for nine years, I try my best not to take for granted how special it is to be in the Met's galleries after hours. And seeing the Museum through the eyes of our newcomers was the best part of the night for me. The Instagrammers fanned out through the space and took photos from interesting vantage points. "Every time I lead a tour, I learn something new about our art from our visitors and what they read and know," noted Sree. "But this time, I also learned a lot about taking better photos, being better at Instagram, and so much more."
We finished the evening with a group photo on the steps in the Great Hall. While our feet may have been tired, we were an enthused and happy group. Before leaving, we exchanged contact information with our fellow participants. Hopefully the connections we made will last longer than one special evening and will bring us back together for more Instagramming and art in the future.
A group photo on the steps of the Great Hall
Chief Digital Officer Sree Sreenivasan leads the group through the Egyptian Galleries. All photographs courtesy Bloomberg Philanthropies
Chief Digital Officer Sree Sreenivasan leads the group through the Egyptian Galleries. All photographs courtesy Bloomberg Philanthropies