News Release: 24 March 1999

The National Gallery of Art's Micro Gallery is Now Available on CD-ROM

Washington, DC--The National Gallery of Art's Micro Gallery, the most comprehensive interactive multimedia computer system in an American art museum, is now available in a CD-ROM compatible with Macintosh and Windows software.

"Ever since the Micro Gallery opened in 1995 it has been an overwhelming success. We are pleased to make this CD-ROM available to a large audience," said Earl A. Powell III, director, National Gallery of Art.

The Micro Gallery has thirteen touch-screen computer stations which are used by hundreds of visitors to the National Gallery every day. It is made possible by a major grant from the American Express Foundation.

The CD-ROM interactive program of the Micro Gallery, entitled National Gallery of Art, Washington, allows users to explore more than 1,500 works of art in the Gallery's permanent collection, and introduces the life and work of more than 600 artists. High quality color reproductions enlarge details of every image and permit close study of the works of art. A subject index relates the works of art thematically, while a timeline places them in the context of major historical and cultural events. An atlas and a dictionary of art terms are also included.

The system requirements for running the CD-ROM are: Windows 3.1, 95, 98, NT, or Macintosh system 7 or greater; SVGA color display or better (at least 640 x 480 pixels with at least 256 colors, thousands or millions of colors strongly recommended); QuickTime software (included on the CD-ROM); 4MB of available RAM; 10 MB of disk space for installation.

The CD-ROM is available in the Gallery Shops for $34.95. It can also be ordered through the Gallery Shops' mail order service by calling 1-800-697-9350 or 301-322-5900, or by visiting the Gallery's Web site at www.nga.gov. The CD-ROM was produced by Cognitive Applications, LTD. of Brighton, England, in collaboration with the curatorial, editorial, and education divisions of the National Gallery of Art.

General Information

The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden are at all times free to the public. They are located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, and are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Gallery is closed on December 25 and January 1. For information call (202) 737-4215 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (202) 842-6176, or visit the Gallery's Web site at www.nga.gov. The Gallery is now on Facebook—become a fan at www.facebook.com/NationalGalleryofArt.

Visitors will be asked to present all carried items for inspection upon entering the East and West Buildings. Checkrooms are free of charge and located at each entrance. Luggage and other oversized bags must be presented at the 4th Street entrances to the East or West Building to permit x-ray screening and must be deposited in the checkrooms at those entrances. For the safety of visitors and the works of art, nothing may be carried into the Gallery on a visitor's back. Any bag or other items that cannot be carried reasonably and safely in some other manner must be left in the checkrooms. Items larger than 17 x 26 inches cannot be accepted by the Gallery or its checkrooms.

For additional press information please call or send inquiries to:

Press Office
National Gallery of Art
2000B South Club Drive
Landover, MD 20785
phone: (202) 842-6353 e-mail: pressinfo@nga.gov

Deborah Ziska
Chief of Press and Public Information
(202) 842-6353
ds-ziska@nga.gov

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