Holst Victorian House Launches New Digital Guide
Discover the new digital guide at Holst Victorian House on Bloomberg Connects! Explore Holst’s life, Victorian treasures, and more with interactive features
The new Holst Victorian House digital guide is now available on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and cultural app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies. This app features hundreds of leading cultural institutions from around the globe.
The Bloomberg Connects app makes Holst Victorian House accessible for both in-person and online visits to the museum. It offers photos, audio, and video features that provide insights into every aspect of Gustav Holst’s life and work.
The app content, curated by museum curator Laura Kinnear, includes:
- Information about Gustav Holst’s early life, family, and career
- A look inside each of the period rooms in the museum
- The museum’s musical trustee, John Wright, discussing and playing Holst’s piano – the very piano on which Holst composed some of his greatest works
- A map of the layout of the Grade II listed building
- Film clips, a link to the Turning the Pages software, and Holst’s scrapbook
- Volunteers discussing Victorian objects and the museum’s original paintings
- A short history of the Pittville residential area, presented by Dr. Steven Blake
- Information about learning sessions and ways to support the museum through volunteering, becoming a Friend, or donating
The Bloomberg Connects app is free to download from Google Play or the App Store, or by scanning the QR code available on-site.
Martin Renshaw, co-chair of Holst Victorian House, said:
"We are very proud to have our own digital app on the global Bloomberg Connects platform. One of our key objectives is to make our collection more accessible, and the app has built-in accessibility features including voiceover, captions and audio transcripts, image zoom, and font size adjustment. The app also offers translation into 43 languages and counting."
Laura Kinnear, curator of Holst Victorian House, added:
"The Bloomberg Connects app perfectly complements our existing visitor interpretation, enabling visitors to take a deeper dive into some of our special items, from Holst’s piano to our amazing collection of Victorian knife sharpeners! Brought to life by a host of knowledgeable volunteers, staff, and historic experts, the new digital guide will be an enriching part of any visit – whether in person or from the comfort of home."
About Holst Victorian House
Holst Victorian House is dedicated to celebrating the composer Gustav Holst, who was born in the building in 1874 when his family lived there. Opened 50 years ago, the museum offers an immersive experience of 1870s Victorian Cheltenham for visitors of all ages. It uses the latest technology, such as films about Holst’s music and influences, the history of the house, and a depiction of a maid’s daily life in the 1870s. Visitors can view original scores in the museum’s collection and use Turning the Pages software to digitally browse the scores while listening to the music simultaneously.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries globally to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organisation focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy, as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy advising cities worldwide.
Holst Victorian House Opening Hours
- Tuesday – Saturday: 10am to 4pm
- Last admissions at 3.30pm
Explore Gloucestershire
21 January 2025
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