For years, the art world has relied on physical spaces—white walls, curated lighting, and the quiet hum of visitors moving from piece to piece. But a new generation of artists is proving that galleries don’t have to be confined by bricks and mortar.
Imagine walking through an art gallery, but instead of navigating crowded hallways or worrying about the next tour group, you’re free to explore every nook and cranny from the comfort of your own home. This isn’t a sci-fi fantasy—it’s the power of cutting-edge technology, where LiDAR, 3D photogrammetry, AI and virtual reality are reshaping the way we experience art and cultural heritage, especially in the north.
Using LiDAR, 3D photogrammetry, and virtual modeling, youth are reshaping how art is exhibited and experienced. Building on research backed by the Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council, the OpenAI Researcher Access Program and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, they’re developing ways to capture and present entire exhibitions in digital form.
The goal? To make galleries more accessible, interactive, and connected—regardless of geography.
Take Qaumajuq, the Inuit art centre at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. It’s home to thousands of pieces, but only a fraction can be displayed at any given time. Through high-resolution scans and virtual spaces, youth artists are creating a digital extension of the collection—one that allows viewers to explore carvings, prints, and textiles up close, from anywhere in the world.
Beyond documentation, these digital tools are sparking new forms of creation. Artists are experimenting with virtual installations, where sculptures exist only as interactive 3D forms, and rethinking how audiences engage with works in immersive online environments. Some are using these technologies to remix traditional techniques, layering digital textures onto photogrammetry scans or embedding soundscapes into visual works.
In addition to the artistic potential, these technologies are valuable tools for preserving northern cultural heritage in the face of rapid environmental change. The impacts of climate change, resource extraction, and development are threatening many northern communities and their cultural sites. By creating digital replicas of these places, LiDAR and 3D photogrammetry provide a safeguard against the destruction or erosion of cultural heritage. These digital models can serve as valuable records, ensuring that even if a site is physically damaged or lost, its memory remains intact.
Exploring the arts with artificial intelligence
AI is transforming collections management, curation, and guided tours by making galleries and museums more efficient, interactive, and accessible. AI-powered systems can support efforts to catalog and organize vast collections. In guided tours, AI-driven virtual assistants and chatbots provide real-time insights, answering visitor questions and offering deeper context through interactive storytelling. Whether through smart search tools, dynamic exhibition planning, or immersive digital guides, AI is reshaping how audiences engage with art, making collections more navigable and experiences more personalized.
For northern and Indigenous communities, these technologies also offer a way to reclaim control over their cultural narratives. In the past, much of Indigenous history was documented by external sources, often misrepresenting or omitting crucial details. With LiDAR, 3D photogrammetry, and virtual reality, northern communities can take the lead in documenting and sharing their own histories in ways that honor their traditions and knowledge systems. This technological empowerment enables them to preserve their culture on their own terms, ensuring that their stories are told accurately and authentically.
This isn’t just about bringing old-school galleries into the digital age—it’s about redefining what an exhibition can be. Instead of a passive viewing experience, digital spaces invite participation, exploration, and even collaboration. Whether it’s through VR walkthroughs of northern studios or interactive archives of Indigenous art, youth artists are proving that technology isn’t a replacement for traditional art—it’s a tool that expands its possibilities.
