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“We can’t handle a crowd.”
American museums will greet some 850 million visitors this year; that’s more than the turnout for major league sporting eents and theme parks combined, according to the American Association of Museums. Among the major institutions, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History brought in 7.1 million visitors in 2007, up nearly 27% since 2005, while the Museum of Modern Art in NY saw 2.2 million visitors in 2007, a 26% increase from 2005. But big crowds can lead to big problems.
It’s becoming more difficult to find that quiet contemplative experience people associate with a museum trip. At special exhibitions in particular, it’s often so packed that it’s hard to see what’s on display, leading frustrated visitors to skip parts of the exhibit. Large crowds also lead to safety and security issues. Museums are especially concerned about having to evacuate visitors quickly in the event of an emergency. -
“When we say our admission fee is optional, we don’t mean it.”
Only 35% of museums are free. Most ask for a “suggested donation”, while a small percentage, have a set mandatory admission. But good luck telling the difference. Museums are making it increasingly difficult for visitors to decipher whether an admission fee is optional. So what’s the etiquette for entry? With government funding slipping, now’s a good time to pay the full suggested donation. If money is tight, check to see if the museum offers reduced admission or free entry on certain days.
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“We sometimes display stolen goods.”
Museums rank just behind libraries as a trusted source of information. But some museums are grappling with a credibility issue: the true ownership of their art. Thousands of artworks seized by the Nazis have ended up in American museums. Countries like Italy, Greece, and Egypt are asking museums to return artifacts if their ownership can’t be tracked prior to 1970. In the past year, about 100 objects were sent back to Italy from museums in the US.
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“High culture sure ain’t what it used to be.”
For years museums have been rolling out special exhibits designed to draw large crowds-and revenue. But today’s blockbusters sometimes take hype to a new level. A recent traveling Star Wars exhibit showcased props from all six films. Tickets can go for $30 or move, and big PR firms and corporate sponsors are joining the party. Museums are even tapping into online sites to spread the word to a younger audience. High-profile exhibits help attract a broader array of visitors, but these blockbusters aren’t always a smash with the art community. Indeed, some people think the museums are simply selling out to popular culture.
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“Even you are on exhibit here.”
Ever have the feeling you’re being watched as you stare admiringly at a piece of art? You may be right. Market research and visitor studies are thriving in museums, with staffers noting things like how much time you spend in a given room. Why all this Big Brother-style observation? In part it’s to make museums more consumer-friendly. Through visitor surveys, exhibit evaluators discovered that few people really understood DNA or genetics. So the museum decided to bring the difficulty level of their exhibit down a couple of notches.
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