How a regional gallery used 3D AR sculptures and AR wall galleries to boost visitor engagement on-site and at home.
Regional art gallery and museum running rotating exhibitions, education programs and a small gift shop.
AR for WordPress (including Image metadata not available) + AR for WooCommerce (for ticketing & gift shop items)
Longer visits, more interaction with key works, higher repeat visits and more membership sign-ups.
Visitors loved the exhibitions, but many moved quickly past key works. Common pain points included:
The result? Short visits, under-used educational content and fewer opportunities to convert visitors into members or donors.
The gallery team wanted to:
They needed a way to manage both 3D models and AR wall galleries for flat artworks, all from their existing WordPress site.
Using AR for WordPress and the Image metadata not available shortcode, the gallery attached AR experiences to both sculptures and hanging works:
Image metadata not available, letting visitors preview artworks as if they were framed on their own walls.Visitors scanned a QR code or tapped an AR button on the gallery’s website, then saw virtual sculptures at full scale or re-hung entire exhibition walls in their own space through the AR gallery.
The gallery team and artists prepared a mix of 3D objects (GLB/USDZ), high-res images and short videos to be used as AR overlays and virtual exhibits.
Using AR for WordPress, staff linked each asset to a WordPress exhibit page and generated AR buttons or QR codes for on-site labels and printed guides.
AR-enabled exhibits were highlighted on the website, in email newsletters and in education packs, encouraging visitors to “continue the exhibition at home”.
Within the first major exhibition using AR, the gallery observed:
When visitors can unlock extra stories and virtual objects on top of your existing exhibits, they feel more connected to the collection and more likely to come back.
“AR let us show the stories that didn’t fit on the wall labels. People linger longer, ask better questions and keep exploring our collection online after they leave.”
Connect AR content directly to your existing WordPress exhibit pages, events and education resources.
Uses native iOS and Android AR viewers so visitors can access AR with their own phones – no special app required.
Enable AR on a handful of hero exhibits, then extend across your permanent collection or touring shows.
Curators and education staff can update AR content via WordPress without needing a developer for every exhibition change.
If you run exhibitions, education programs or a heritage collection, AR can turn your displays into layered, interactive stories that live on beyond the visit.
Use AR for WordPress and AR for WooCommerce to connect in-gallery signage, online exhibits and education packs into one joined-up AR experience.
Do visitors need to download an app?
No. The plugins use the native AR viewers built into modern iOS and Android devices. Visitors simply scan a QR code or tap a link and their phone opens AR straight away.
Can we start with just one exhibition?
Yes. Many institutions begin by AR-enabling a single touring or feature exhibition, then roll the same approach into their permanent collection once staff are comfortable with the workflow.
What media can we use in AR?
You can use 3D models (GLB/USDZ), high-resolution images and short video or audio clips. Once uploaded to WordPress, AR for WordPress and AR for WooCommerce handle the AR viewer integration and linking to exhibits.
