Guide-ID, the audio tour specialist, has provided its next-generation product, the Podcatcher Pro, to Birmingham Museums Trust (BMT), where it is being used to support a short guided tour focused on the role of women through the Pre-Raphaelites movement, as part of the Victorian Radicals: From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts & Crafts Movement exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG).
BMT is the largest civic museum trust in England and one of the only museum services in Birmingham, the second-largest city in the UK. It cares for over one million objects and operates nine different sites, one of which is BMAG. BMAG closed in 2019 for a significant internal electrical rewiring project. The gallery has now begun a phased reopening of its forty-plus galleries and exhibition spaces.
The first phase of this re-opening commenced with the delivery of Victorian Radicals: From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts & Crafts Movement. With more than 160 works on display, this exhibition—which was co-organised with the American Federation of Arts—brings to life how the Pre-Raphaelites influenced arts and crafts. It recently returned from an acclaimed US tour. Crucially, it has given BMT the chance to extend a warm re-welcome to Birmingham residents at BMAG and create much-needed revenue for the trust—a registered charity.
Podcatcher Pro at BMT
In order for BMT to fulfil its mission of creating a Museums Trust of social purpose, hope, and solidarity, it was crucial that it could easily present a wide range of stories in a little space. To that end, it has introduced Podcatcher Pro.
Thanks to the Podcatcher devices, BMT launched Victorian Radicals with a brief guided tour that highlighted women’s roles throughout the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Through a talk with art historian Kirsty Stonell Walker, visitors learn about six main themes of the exhibition, which highlight women as both artists and subjects.
Since it opened on 10 February 2024, the show has consistently surpassed monthly visitor goals and brought in money for the trust in spite of the difficult national and regional financial environment for the arts. A total of 16,694 people saw the show in late February and throughout March (about 46% more than was originally budgeted). During this time, over 7000 audio tours were completed.
The simplicity of Podcatcher Pro is what makes it a winning solution. BMT will announce a second tour soon, which will raise awareness of another underrepresented narrative.
Kingston Myles, director of enterprise & innovation at BMT, says: “The Podcatcher Pro has been positively embraced by visitors of all ages and demographics and adds value to the visitor experience, which further allows BMT to be comfortable charging admission to a great value show.”
Farnaz Khoshnazar, business manager for the United Kingdom & Ireland at Guide-ID, adds: “I’m thrilled to be part of sharing stories about Victorian Radicals, especially the courageous women who challenged norms and fought for change. They were bold trailblazers who stood up for what they believed in, pushing boundaries and making a lasting impact on society.
“Through Podcatcher Pro at the Birmingham Museum, we get to shine a spotlight on their remarkable journeys and inspire others with their bravery and resilience. It’s an exciting opportunity to celebrate their contributions and keep their legacy alive for generations to come! I’m particularly delighted that we’ve launched the Guide-ID Podcatcher Pro for the first time in the UK to tell their stories.”
Last year, blooloop spoke to Guide-ID founder and CEO Frits Polman to learn more about the company’s journey so far, its mission to make content as accessible as possible, and what the new Podcatcher Pro can offer.
