The art of social media

IREAD with interest Athena’s concerns about reviving interest in the nation’s permanent art collections (April 27). Perhaps I can offer some comfort by revealing the recent success I’ve had on Tiktok, the video-sharing social-media app. In the past couple of months, I’ve created several videos exploring the great artworks of the National Gallery in some depth, including pieces by Constable, Holbein and Cranach. I’m delighted—and quite astounded —at the response, including more than 500,000 ‘likes’ and 3.1 million views on an explainer of Delaroche’s The Execution of Lady Jane Grey. Tiktok has also been fantastic for getting people involved in groups such as the Young Georgians and I’ve organised an event through the platform to bring the young National Trust members together. If heritage organisations are looking to engage the public in history, I couldn’t recommend Tiktok enough—there are millions of curious people out there eager to learn and it’s completely free. Alice Loxton, by email