British Museum To Be Digitally Recreated In Minecraft

British Museum to be digitally recreated in Minecraft By Joe Miller Technology Reporter

23 September 2014

The British Museum in London, complete and all of its exhibits, will be recreated in Minecraft.

The Museum of the Future scheme includes the project, which aims increase the institution's appeal.

Many real-life agencies have created maps for Minecraft, including Ordnance Survey (Danish government) and Ordnance Survey (Ordnance Survey). These maps aim to raise awareness of their work among young people.

Last week, Minecraft (PS1.5bn) was sold to Microsoft.

A spokesperson for the museum stressed that the project was still in "an early planning phase" and that the "build" has not yet begun.

She added that the organisation was intending to recruit members of the public to help with the "construction".

The British Museum

The first national public museum in the world, founded in 1753

The UK's Most Popular Tourist Attraction

Eight million objects are held in the collection, which attracts nearly six million visitors each year.

Its natural history collection were moved to South Kensington in 1880s, where it would become the Natural History Museum.

Its instantly recognisable Great Court, designed by Lord Foster, is the largest covered public space in Europe

One British Museum employee posted details of the project on the social media site Reddit, asking for volunteers to get involved.

He received an enthusiastic response from Minecraft fans around the globe.

Initial stages

The first step of the process will involve digitally creating the Great Court and facade of the building.

The institution hopes this stage will be ready in time for a public debate entitled Changing public dialogues with museum collections in the digital age, taking place on 16 October.

Ovum analytics firm Ovum's Ed Barton said that the British Museum's decision to move to Minecraft would help it be "perceived in something fun" and would serve as an educational tool for a younger generation.

"It's the digital equivalent of building the British Museum in Lego," he said. It must be built brick by brick.

He stated that the institution should be commended because it crowdsourced the project and "turns it into a collaborative thing" which could further engage young Minecraft enthusiasts.

He said, "What cool project it would to be asked build the Elgin Marbles using Minecraft."

Reddit is the place to register interest in contributing to British Museum's projects.

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British Museum - Museum of the future