Culture never stops, and it is crucial that museums keep going too, especially in the face of COVID-19. Museums are key spaces of education, inspiration and dialogue. At a time when billions of people around the world are separated from one another, museums try to bring us together. Due to COVID-19 not only are they not generating revenue, museums are also vulnerable when closed.
COVID-19 is a pandemic affecting everyone, therefore, being a former art curator student my research topic is builded around how museums around the world managed to reach out to audiences amidst the pandemic.
As my Professor has indicated I should get a grasp of this theory, both to inform and to provide a framework for analysis.
I think what coronavirus is doing is, it’s forcing us as individuals and as a society to reevaluate our priorities. If museums are going under because they’re not funded and no one is stepping up to fill that gap, that is reflective of our society’s priorities.
There are many annotations I have come across for the study of my research topic, but following are the most relevant references I have found. 1. COVID-19 resources. (2020, August 21). Retrieved from https://mgnsw.org.au/sector/resources/covid-19-resources/
While Museums are losing millions every week, they are already working hard to reopen and get back to normal. This source engages with the cultural resources and heritage assets from sites and monuments, museums and galleries, to the intangible life ways of traditional culture bearers. The heritage sector is already working hard to preserve the COVID-19 moment, predicting that future generations will need documentary evidence, photographic archives and artefacts to help them understand this period of history.
Many museums are engaging a potential propaganda to fill in financial deficits by enticing visitors back to the sites.
NSW Government has stated that museums, galleries and libraries may open as of 1 June, however they will have to follow the industrial guideline and develop a safety plan. The documents provided by NSW government includes links to official Government advice and developing a timeline and strategy for re-opening. There are video documentations and webinars generated to practice good guidelines.
The source also gives a list of various organisations offering financial opportunities and support during this pandemic. For eg: Grants from Create NSW, Service NSW, Australia council etc.
A compiled series of recommendations has been provided for the caring of Collections during the closure.
Despite the closure MGNSW scheduled many ways to engage with public whilst maintaining social distancing practices. Blue Mountains Cultural Centre is launching its virtual night program, featuring local artists and creatives to contribute personal ideas and stories aiming to provide the community with some positive content.
I recon this is an interesting article for my research as it gives a list of online resources and activities to keep cultural curiosity piqued.
2. Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (n.d.) Director to director: museums around the world. Retrieved September 4, 2020 from https://www.mca.com.au/whats-on/director-director-museums-around-world-series/
An interesting interview conducted by Elizabeth Ann Macgregor- Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia live on Instagram chats with national and international museum directors about the challenges of the current situation and what the future of museums might look like as we emerge from this crisis. Elizabeth pays great respect towards aboriginal culture stating that Australia has been a aboriginal land and will always be a aboriginal land.
Fascinating compilation of recordings here in words of the museum directors tell us an unknown story of museums since the pandemic started.
Mami Kataoka, Director, Mori Art Museum in Japan said, ‘Climate change and globalisation and liberalism have been criticised for a long time, but nobody could stop it. This virus has stopped it in a very short time.’ After the second wave in Japan the Mori Art Museum who is a private museum faced difficulties getting answers from the government and struggling to deal with the situation.
Klaus Biesenbach director of MOCA in Los Angeles stated that their Mayor had been very active and informing in order to keep the art sector active.
Nick Mitzecich, director of National gallery of Australia comments that before COVID hit, they already were in a state of alert with the past two incidents that happened to affect the museum, one being the Bushfire ‘smoke’ and the other damages caused to their sculptures due to ‘Hailstones’. The gallery had already moved to a business continuity event, managing the preservation of artefacts and safety of visitors.
These interviews add an interesting plot to my research as it gives out real verdicts direct from the museum directors with no manipulation.
3. Museums facing COVID-19 challenges remain engaged with communities. (2020, April 4). Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/news/museums-facing-covid-19-challenges-remain-engaged-communities
This article is eminently useful to my research. While closures are usually decided by the national authorities, most museums devise their own coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and these vary widely. From virtual visits to Facebook and Instagram content, from podcasts to open access online platforms, museums and cultural institutions are getting creative as they cope with this unprecedented situation.
Some museum professionals shared with UNESCO how were they coping during this difficult time.
The Livingstone Museum of Zambia is closed but active via Facebook and website. Be wise, stay at home!” said an Assistant Keeper.
Many of Lebanon’s museums have made virtual tours and mobile applications available.
While the Museum of Black Civilisations in Senegal is closed, they are engaging with experts to film guided tours of all the exhibitions which will broadcasted and will also be made online.
The challenges are multiple, support for staff, security, and preservation of collections.
The Mary Rose Museum in England depends on their Trust for conserving and displaying collection of artefacts. It was reported that after the museum’s closure amid COVID-19, the Mary Rose was in great danger because 90% of funding comes from visitors, with the majority generated between April and September.
This article attempts to draw connections between how some of the museums managed to remain physically closed yet active and engaging to their audiences in creative ways through online platforms to lift spirits and keep everyone connected.
4. Aitken, J. (2020, June 25). Coronavirus: how museums and galleries are preparing for the ‘new normal’. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-how-museums-and-galleries-are-preparing-for-the-new-normal-141401
An excellent article that demonstrates an effective close reading of a museum in England with a useful analysis for the research study.
When the lockdown started many museums, galleries and theatres quickly moved online to get huge swaths of activity. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, for example, has really finessed its online offering.
The greatest strength of this article is how Social media has been vital to many people who are navigating their way through lockdown.
The collaboration between Government and Public was particularly interesting as it raised questions about the quality and development of the institutions.
The article also provides study of a student from university of art and design in Dundee, whose plan was to examine the Exhibition unable to open because of lockdown.
Building audience confidence is a huge part of the equation, but it must be complemented by a renewed and innovative sense of purpose among curators and producers. An interview with one of the curators of the museum expressed that the Online access to vast collections of artworks and magnificent performances has been a genuine joy to many people for whom the loss of access to culture otherwise would have been depressing.
The article ultimately has encouraged many more people to really explore a new range of artistic and cultural offerings that they previously considered not to be for them. It also highlights on the healthcare aspects of the museums which not only supports self-employed practitioners to earn, but will hopefully normalise the wearing of masks and facilitate a caring and community focused atmosphere in art spaces. 5. Itzkowitz, L. (2020, June 8). How the Coronavirus Pandemic Is Affecting Museums. Architectural Digest. Retrieved from https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/covid-19-impact-on-museums
An interesting article by the AD magazine on how the pandemic is affecting the museums and how museums are combating with the situation. For some art and design lovers, the experience of living under lockdown for months has given them a new appreciation for museums and the artistic treasures they contain.
In a interview with Livia Hengel, a contributor to Forbes and founder of the Italy Edit she comments, as soon as she heard Galleria Borghese was reopening, she couldn’t wait to visit this museum which normally sells out months in advance and is always teeming with visitors.
While museums around the world are finding additional ways to minimize risk of the spread of COVID-19, to enforce social distancing, Galleria Borghese is limiting the number of visitors to 80 for each two-hour time slot available. Visitors have to book in advance, and will receive an electronic ticket. And as per the Italian government’s new regulations, all visitors and staff must wear a face mask inside.
The Duomo of Florence square, a Historical Museum, is the first institution in the world that will require visitors to wear a device around their necks that buzzes and flashes if they come closer than two meters to another person.
The article also flashes on the income deficits, and slashed budgets due to the closure.
As a former student of art curation, this article has enlightened me over the fact that despite economic shortfalls, how more than 2000 museums and cultural institutions have managed to reach out by providing virtual tours through Google Arts & Culture. 6. Museums and COVID-19: 8 steps to support community resilience. (2020, April 29). Retrieved from https://icom.museum/en/news/museums-and-covid-19-8-steps-to-support-community-resilience/
Museums have no borders, they have a network.
ICOM, representing the international museum community, recognised the financial urgency and calls on policy to allocate relief funds to salvage museums and their professionals, so they can survive the lockdowns and continue their vital public service mission once it is over, for the generations to come.
The healing process of societies after the COVID-19 crisis will be long and complex. Museums will have an important role to play in repairing and strengthening the social fabric of communities affected.
ICOM announced that they will be collaborating with national and international organisations to ensure the future of museums.
ICOM provided 8 steps to support community resilience:
The security of museums and the safety and well being of staff should be a top priority.
Museums will need to focus on what they are doing best and seek alternative ways of doing the same.
Trying to understand the current situation and its impact on society.
Revitalising partnerships and solidarity with other institutions who are also trying to offer solutions.
Mapping and visualising current experiences by developing new and creative platforms with the help of new acquisitions would bring an effective way in engaging with the communities.
This is an interesting article by ICOM that focuses on providing valuable help to museums all over the world during this difficult times.
It closely monitors the impacts of the crisis on the museum sector and applaud the creative solutions applied to reach their audiences and continue engaging with diversity. The sources in this article will be strongly applicable and helpful towards my research study.