Some of you may have some you may haven’t, but before you go to galleries and museums of your choice, whether it may be just for appreciation of art or a requirement for your humanities class, you must know first that in every place you’ll visit, there will always be etiquette to be observed and of course, must be followed.
When I searched “etiquette in museums” in Google, I saw that there are lots of etiquette and rules being displayed in different websites but there’s one thing they always say: THE GOLDEN RULE IS NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING. JUT LOOK, DO NOT TOUCH.
This rule is very strictly implemented, especially nowadays that there were cases reported that statues and paintings are being destroyed by tourists just because they lack knowledge about these etiquette.
Here are some tips I got from the internet when going inside a museum or a gallery.
From the blog of laurel perry in www.capturinglavita.com, he shares his insights about etiquette to be observed in museums entitled “The Top 20 Museum Etiquette Rules-Don’t Ever Tour Again without Them!”
Here’s what’s inside the blog:
- Do not high five the statues. As tempting as it may be, that quick laugh is not going to be worth the total humiliation you will feel when you break a 600 year old statue and the entire world finds out about it.
- The golden museum rule- DO NOT TOUCH! No matter how tempted you are, RESIST! If everyone touches, nothing will be left for you to admire.
- Do not climb the statues. Just don’t.
- Keep your voice down. Discuss the art, that’s what it’s there for. There is no need to escalate conversations to the point of disturbing those around you.
- For the love of art, if you must get that photo, DON’T use a flash! Yes, even though it’s hard to resist snapping a shot when you are standing in front of one of the most famous masterpieces in the world. With a phone, it’s pretty easy to grab that shot. The art is incredibly light sensitive and with millions of flashes hitting them, they will be affected.
- If you don’t enjoy museums, don’t go. It’s when people get bored that they start acting up. If someone is dragging you along, suggest that you wait outside in the piazza with an espresso. The people watching will keep you entertained.
- Hire a guide! A good guide will keep you interested and give you a whole new perspective on what you see and you will really learn throughout your journey inside the museum.
- Do not pose on the furniture! The beds fit for kings and queens are not fit for you.
- When you are pointing out details in a piece, stay far enough away that you do not make contact with the piece itself. I see this far too often. The oils from your fingers will cause damage.
- The velvet ropes are there to keep you back. They are not your playground. This is not good museum etiquette.
- Do not drink alcohol before or during your visit. Being drunk in a museum is embarrassing and uncomfortable for everyone.
- Kids. Make it fun for them. Many museums offer special activities for children- everything from Scavenger hunts to wearing period costume pieces. Children that learn to appreciate art become adults that appreciate art. Nurture this in your children and be mindful. I have 3 kids that love going to museums. They will want to touch, it’s natural. Bring a small toy or something they can hold in their hands so they won’t be as tempted. Give them a pad of paper and a pencil and have them draw their favorite pieces. Remember- When they are done, you are done. You have to visit a museum on their level, not yours.
- Do not stand directly in front of the exhibit or the information plaque. If we all take a step back, we all can see.
- Do not eat inside the museum. Your crumbs look horrible in front of that Michelangelo.
- Don’t smoke. In the lines outside, or in the crowded piazza where everyone is admiring the art. It ruins the experience for everyone else.
- Don’t push, shove, or run in the museum. Yes, people do this.
- No one likes an art snob. Well, except maybe another art snob. If you know something more than we do, share it. People love learning new things from other visitors as well. Just don’t walk around like you deserve to be there more than everyone else.
- Enjoy yourself. If you find something is funny and you want to crack a joke, go for it. Just do it quietly to your friends and respect the people around you.
- on that note: do not molest the statues. Pretending like you are humping the naked statues or getting your photo taken grabbing their body parts is not cute.
- Oh, one more thing. Don’t touch.
Based on my own experience, whenever our family goes out of the country or even just out of town, we always make sure to be in our best behavior because our behavior reflects what we are and what we’ve been raised to. It’s necessary for all of us to behave and follow rules strictly.
Actually, whether or not you’re going to visit a museum or a gallery, we should always be well mannered so that we will be free from humiliation or anything that may cause us to be in trouble.
But then, we’re on a modern community now.
The site www.frenchtree.com says the age of the selfie brings a fresh challenge to curators. Keeping people from causing disruption while taking photos in French museums now that virtually everybody is carrying a camera or a Smartphone is impossible. Museum staff is irretrievably outnumbered so if you can’t beat them … just admit that everybody is a photographer!
The indiscriminate taking of photographs and selfies is causing congestion and disruption to people who visit a museum as a place of reflection or study. Not to mention the intellectual rights violation of copyright protected art, particularly when showing pieces belonging to private collectors, or the repercussions on the rights of members of the public who may not wish to appear in someone else’s social media page and the fact that France protects the “right to your own image” as part of the privacy rules in their civil and criminal codes.
Let’s just be observant and control ourselves when we’re inside the premises of a private area or anywhere else. After all, our behavior reflects what’s inside us.
(written by Joana Joyce Tan Marcaida, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)