Designing a website for a museum or art gallery can be a challenging task, as it requires creating a visually appealing and user-friendly online platform that showcases the exhibits and events of the institution. A well-designed museum website can serve as a powerful tool for promoting exhibitions, booking visits, educating visitors, and attracting a wider audience. It can be a great opportunity to showcase exhibits and provide visitors with a rich, interactive experience. By offering a range of interactive features and providing in-depth information about your exhibits, you can inspire visitors to come and see them in person.
To help you get started on your own museum website design, we have compiled a list of the best museum websites for inspiration. These websites showcase unique designs, web page layouts, and color schemes that you can use as a starting point for your own museum website. Whether you are looking for a modern and sleek design, or a more traditional and classic look, these websites offer a range of design options to suit different aesthetics and needs.
The Best Museum Websites of 2023
In this post, we have compiled a list of 13 of our favorite museum websites that showcase unique design trends, web page layouts, and color schemes that you can draw inspiration from.
1. Petersen Automotive Museum
The Petersen Automotive Museum is a non-profit organization in Los Angeles that celebrates the history, industry, culture, and artistry of the automotive world. The museum's website has a clean and simple design, with visible links to book visits, buy tickets, view current events or exhibitions, and access the online store.
2. Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory is an icon of Los Angeles, a national leader in public astronomy, and one of southern California’s most popular attractions. This observatory website has super clear navigation, visually engaging imagery and a clear theme used throughout. Call to action buttons are very visible and stand out from backgrounds, bold and readable texts, member login area are all really great features that makes this museum website stand out.
3. Phoenix Art Museum
The PhxArt group is focused on mining activities in West America. It utilizes a functional museum websites design to exhibit various landscapes of extraction.
Landscape aesthetics aside, visitors can use the site’s Menu section to effortlessly explore multiple mining exhibitions, purchase tickets, or sign up for membership.
4. The MET
The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City is the largest art museum in the Americas, with a website that holds over a thousand pages. Despite its size, the website has a simple layout that allows users to easily purchase tickets and access a wealth of resources, including courses, articles, and tutorials. The website's footer design also includes links to other pages that may not be in the top menu.
5. Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam is a popular museum in Europe that offers both English and Dutch versions of its website. The website has a sleek design and is easy to navigate, with a prominent call to action to book tickets. The homepage features exhibitions with a visually appealing horizontal scroll, making it easy for visitors to explore what's on display at the museum.
6. Fans Hals Museum
This museum website from the Netherlands features a colorful, playful, and fun yellow design. The website is visually appealing and immaculate, making it an exciting resource for those interested in Frans Hals or 17th century gold age art culture. The website has a well-structured top menu and a floating sidebar icon menu for easy navigation.
7. Sergey Parajanov
The website for the Museum dedicated to Armenian film director Sergey Parajanov has a welcoming splash page and serves as an art portfolio website, showcasing the artist's work. The page layout throughout the website is unique and the choice of colors and fonts effectively complement the artist. The website does a good job of presenting the life and artworks of Sergey Parajanov in an visually appealing and informative manner.
8. National Museum of Play
The National Museum of Play, also known as The Strong, is one of the largest history museums in the United States and is known for its highly interactive exhibits and programs. The museum has an informative and easy-to-navigate website, making it a valuable resource for families. The website does a good job of highlighting the museum's offerings and making it easy for visitors to plan their visit.
9. USAir Force Million Peace Mission
AirForcepuzzle.com is a website that allows visitors to team up with others and learn about flight history in detail. The website also features the United States Air Force (USAF) museum layout design, which includes a digital puzzle that visitors can decipher. The puzzle is the largest of its kind on the internet, making it a unique and engaging feature of the website.
Check it out here.
10. Crypt Art
Crypt Art is an online gallery for rare collectibles and art that hosts exhibitions of basements, catacombs, tombs, and vaults. The website is known for organizing numerous yearly exhibitions and events and features a wide range of rare and interesting items.
Check it out here.
11. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Gardening enthusiasts can learn more about Isabella Stewart and her beautiful garden museum by visiting the website's About Us section. The website's functional design also allows visitors to browse the museum's gardens, art, exhibition programs, and music collection from the comfort of their own homes.
Check it out here.
12. Gabriel Cualladó the Photographer
The Gabriel Cualladó museum website features beautiful photographic displays that are considered among the pioneer Spanish collections available on the internet. In addition to showcasing the life and work of the Spanish photographer, the website also has effective use of space and convenient web page transitions.
Check it out here.
13. Luxam Museum
Luxam Lighting LLC is a company that specializes in lighting products and solutions for museum environments and exhibits. The company uses its museum website to showcase its reputation as a leading provider of flexible, precise, and vibrant showcase equipment. The website has well-categorized sections for LED and fiber optic lighting, as well as information about the full range of onsite solutions offered by the company.
Check it out here.
14. National Museum Of Mexican Art
The National Museum of Mexican Art has a vibrant and welcoming website that showcases its opulent collection of Mexican art and culture. The website allows visitors to explore over 3,000 years of authentic artistic creativity. Upon visiting the website, visitors are immediately immersed in the museum's rich collection.
Check it out here.
15. Muzeum MZA
The MZA Warszawa website is a children's animation platform that features a curated collection of original artwork illustrations. The website has a colorful font and page template display that may serve as inspiration for other virtual museum websites.
Check it out here.
16. The Covid Art Museum
The COVID Art Museum (CAM) is the world's first pandemic art museum, and its website serves as a virtual exhibition space. The website has a beautiful design, with an artful layout and the effective integration of a sound grid system. As the name suggests, the CAM website is focused on showcasing art related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Check it out here.
17. V-Art Gallery
V-Art Gallery is a digital representation of modern painters' unique artworks, featuring curated painting collections from private galleries in museums across Europe and Russia. The website's menu section provides visitors with user-friendly virtual tour options across various art exhibition niches. The website is a great resource for those interested in modern painting and art from Europe and Russia.
Check it out here.
18. Maritime Museum of Denmark
The MFS DK museum website not only hosts virtual Danish maritime and trade exhibits, but also serves as a knowledge center for visitors. On the website, visitors can browse through various categories of books and records, as well as access sections dedicated to the latest nautical periodicals. The website's interactive interface allows users to read through entire journals on the site.
Museum Website Templates
There are many museum website templates available that can help you quickly and easily create a professional website for your museum or art gallery. These templates often come with pre-designed layouts, color schemes, and other elements that can be easily customized to fit your specific needs.
Some popular options for museum website templates include:
Art Gallery: This template is specifically designed for art galleries and museums and includes a clean, modern design and easy-to-use features.
Museum: This template is perfect for museums of all kinds, with a professional and sophisticated design that showcases your exhibits and events.
Art Muse: This template has a sleek and modern design that is perfect for art galleries and museums. It includes a variety of features and customizations to help you create a unique website.
Art Museum: This template has a clean and elegant design that is perfect for showcasing your art exhibits. It includes a variety of features and customization options to help you create a professional website.
Art Gallery Pro: This template is specifically designed for art galleries and museums and includes a variety of features and customization options to help you create a professional website.
By using a museum website template, you can save time and effort in creating a website for your museum or art gallery, and focus on what matters most – showcasing your exhibits and engaging with your audience.
Museum Website Design
Designing a website for a museum or art gallery can be a challenging task, as it requires a delicate balance between showcasing the exhibits and providing information about the museum itself. However, with the right approach, you can create a website that is both visually appealing and easy to navigate.
Here are some tips for designing a museum website:
Keep it simple: A museum website should be easy to navigate and understand, so avoid cluttered or confusing layouts. Use clear headings and subheadings to help visitors find the information they need.
Showcase the exhibits: The main purpose of a museum website is to showcase the exhibits, so make sure to feature high-quality photos of your collection. Consider using a visual gallery or slideshow to highlight different pieces.
Provide information about the museum: In addition to showcasing the exhibits, your website should also provide information about the museum itself, including its history, mission, and staff.
Include visitor information: Make it easy for visitors to plan their trip by including information about hours, admission fees, and directions to the museum.
Consider using a template: There are many pre-designed museum website templates available that can help you create a professional-looking website quickly and easily. Just make sure to customize the template to fit the specific needs of your museum.
You can choose from a variety of templates that are specifically designed for museums, art galleries, and cultural institutions, or you can work with a professional designer to create a custom website. It is important to consider the overall look and feel of your website, as well as the specific features and functionality that you need, such as online ticketing, event calendar, and multimedia content.
Your museum website should be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and informative, providing visitors with all the information they need to plan their visit, learn about your exhibits, and stay up to date with your events and news. Some features to consider including are:
A clear and intuitive navigation menu
High-quality images and videos showcasing your exhibits and events
A calendar of upcoming events and exhibitions
Information about ticket prices, opening hours, and location
Interactive multimedia content such as virtual tours, videos, or games
Social media integration to keep your visitors engaged and informed
A contact form or other means of communication for inquiries and feedback
Ultimately, the design of your museum website should reflect the unique character and mission of your institution, and effectively communicate the value and experience that visitors can expect when visiting your museum.
Best Website builders for Museums
There are many website builders available that are suitable for creating museum websites. Some of the top options include:
Wix: This platform offers a wide range of templates and design options, making it easy to create a professional-looking museum website. It also has e-commerce capabilities, so you can sell tickets or merchandise online.
Squarespace: This website builder has a range of templates specifically designed for museums, as well as a variety of design customization options. It also offers e-commerce capabilities and integrates with social media platforms.
WordPress: This platform offers a wide range of themes and plugins specifically designed for museums, as well as a variety of customization options. It also has a robust content management system, making it easy to update and manage your website.
Weebly: This website builder offers a range of templates and design options, as well as e-commerce capabilities and integration with social media. It also has a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for those with little technical experience to create a website.
Overall, the best website builder for a museum will depend on your specific needs and preferences. It's important to consider the design options, e-commerce capabilities, and content management system when selecting a builder for your museum website.
Museum Website Common Questions
Do I need a museum website?
Having a website for your museum can be a valuable asset in promoting your exhibitions, events, and educational offerings to a wider audience. A website allows you to easily share information about your museum and its offerings with visitors, and can serve as a platform for booking visits, purchasing tickets, and providing resources for researchers and educators. It can also help to increase visibility and attract new visitors by allowing you to showcase your museum's collections and programs online. If you are looking to reach a larger audience and have a more convenient way to share information about your museum, a website may be a useful tool for you.
What should be on my museum website?
A museum website should include information about the museum's location, hours of operation, admission fees, and upcoming events and exhibitions. It should also provide details about the museum's collection and mission, as well as information about any educational programs or resources that are available to visitors.
How do I create a museum website?
Creating a museum website involves several steps, including the following:
Determine the purpose and goals of your website. What do you want to achieve with your website, and who is your target audience? Consider what type of content and features you want to include on your website, and how you want to present this information to your visitors.
Plan your website's layout and design. Consider the overall look and feel of your website, and how you want to organize and present the information on your website. Think about the types of pages you want to include (e.g., home page, about us, exhibitions, etc.), and what types of navigation tools you will use (e.g., menus, search functions, etc.).
Gather and organize your content. Determine what types of information you want to include on your website, and start gathering the necessary materials (e.g., text, images, videos, etc.). Consider how you want to present this information to your visitors, and whether you want to include interactive features or other multimedia elements.
Choose a website platform. There are many options for creating a website, including content management systems (CMS) like WordPress or Wix, or custom-built websites. Consider your budget, technical skills, and the features and functionality you need when selecting a platform.
Build and test your website. Use your chosen platform to create your website, following the steps provided by the platform. As you build your website, test it to ensure that all the links and features are working correctly.
Promote your website. Once your website is live, be sure to let people know about it through social media, email newsletters, and other marketing channels. This will help drive traffic to your website and increase visibility for your museum.
Creating a museum website can be a complex process, but with careful planning and attention to detail, you can create a website that effectively showcases your museum's collection and mission, and engages visitors.
Is WIX good for museum websites?
Wix is a popular website builder that can be used to create a variety of websites, including museum websites. It offers a range of customizable templates and design tools that make it easy to create a professional-looking website without the need for coding knowledge.
What is a museum website?
A museum website is a digital representation of a physical museum. It is a website that provides information about the museum, its collections, exhibitions, events, and other activities. Museum websites can be a useful resource for visitors, researchers, and educators, and can serve as a platform for the museum to share its mission and values with the public.
Why should you have a museum website?
There are several reasons why museums should have a website:
Accessibility
Marketing and outreach
Educational resources
Online ticketing and shopping
Improved visibility
Overall, a museum website can be a valuable resource for visitors, researchers, and educators, and can help museums promote their collections, exhibitions, and other activities to a wider audience.
How much does a museum website cost?
The cost of a museum website can vary depending on a number of factors, including the complexity of the website, the number of pages and features it includes, and the level of customization and design work required.
What should a museum website blog about?
A museum website blog can be a valuable resource for visitors, providing informative and engaging content about the museum and its collections, exhibitions, and events. Here are a few ideas for topics you could blog about on a museum website:
Information about the museum
Visitor information
Educational resources
Events and programs
News and updates
Social media integration
Behind-the-scenes content
Expert interviews
Research updates
Guest posts
How do I get a museum website?
To get a museum website, you will need to follow these steps:
Determine your website goals and needs: Consider what you want to achieve with your museum website and what features and functionality it should include. This will help you determine the type of website builder or content management system (CMS) you will need, as well as the budget and resources required.
Choose a website builder or CMS: There are many options available, including website builders such as Wix and SquareSpace, and content management systems such as WordPress. Research different options and choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.
Register a domain name: A domain name is the address of your website, such as www.mymuseum.com. Choose a domain name that is memorable and reflects your museum's brand.
Set up hosting: Hosting is the service that stores and serves the files for your website. There are many hosting providers available, ranging in price and features. Choose a hosting provider that meets your needs and budget.
Design and build your website: Use the tools and features provided by your chosen website builder or CMS to design and build your website. This may involve selecting a template, customizing the layout and design, and adding content and features.
Test and launch your website: Test your website to ensure that it is functioning correctly and is user-friendly. Once you are satisfied with your website, you can launch it and make it live for the public to see.
Overall, getting a museum website involves making a number of decisions and completing several steps, including choosing a website builder or CMS, registering a domain name, setting up hosting, designing and building the website, and testing and launching it. By carefully planning and executing these steps, you can create a professional and effective museum website.
How do I create a museum website on WIX?
To create a museum website on Wix:
Sign up for a Wix account and choose a template
Customize the template using the drag-and-drop editor
Add pages and features, such as social media integration, online ticketing, and an online store
Preview and publish your website when it is ready to go live.
How can I improve my museum website?
To improve your museum website:
Regularly update with fresh content
Use high-quality images
Optimize for mobile devices
Use SEO best practices
Make website user-friendly
Include social media integration
How do I create content for my museum website?
To create content for your museum website, it is important to first determine your goals and understand your target audience. This will help you focus your content creation efforts and ensure that your content is relevant and useful for your audience. To gather content ideas, you can think about the information you want to share about your museum, such as its history, collections, exhibitions, and events, as well as educational resources and news updates.
Once you have identified potential content topics, you can create a content calendar to plan out when you will publish your content. When creating your content, be sure to use a variety of formats, such as text, images, videos, and interactive elements, to create engaging and informative content for your website. Be sure to also edit and proofread your content to ensure that it is well-written and error-free. Finally, publish your content on your museum website and promote it through social media and other channels to reach a wider audience. By following these steps, you can create high-quality content that helps your museum website achieve its goals.