Double the Museums, Half the Fun
In recent weeks, my girls and I have visited 2 different art museums in the region. The first one, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA, is one of our favourite places to go because it combines our love of reading and art together. A bonus is that the artwork is familiar, especially important for my 4 year old. However, both my oldest and I can still appreciate and discuss good art done well. The museum itself recognizes that by virtue of its collection and exhibits, kids will be among the many museum-goers there and they have taken care to reflect that in the way they display the art, the programs they offer, and the facilities. We could spend hours there and we have!
The 2nd museum, the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH was a very different animal indeed. This was clearly a museum for the more serious art-lover and yet, the website (which we should have read more carefully BEFORE our visit) seemed to reflect a welcoming attitude towards families. We were so excited to be visiting this much-talked about place on its new grounds too.
Unfortunately, it was a very disappointing experience for us. Not only were we scolded before we even entered the building (this photo of the immense di Suvero sculpture in the front of the museum and my girls should give you a clue as to why), but the various museum employees followed us everywhere we went, making an already tense situation even moreso. Certain artwork was not displayed as being obvious gallery pieces, sculptures by important artists dangled in the middle of a room, just tempting little hands to touch, and through it all, there were no signs in indicating rules of any kind and where were those velvet ropes to keep patrons at a safe distance from other pieces that would have benefited from those? Are there any real benches for sitting? What do you mean we can't point? Can I breathe in this space? You mean we can't sit on this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hassock? The only places I did see any indication of rules were in the optional tour brochures at the entryway and on the website.
We've been to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts without incident. We've been to local art galleries and our visits have been stress-free and enjoyable. But our visit to the Currier was the most stressful 2 hours I've ever spent in a museum in my life. My girls are kids, they're not out of control kids in the least bit, but they are children, not little grown-ups in sports jackets and ties (and you know the musem staff was not hot on that little guy's trail...).
I commiserated with another mother of a young child in the cafe there and we were both so relieved to know that we were not alone in how we felt. I've written a letter to the museum, describing our experience and also suggesting ways they can improve so that all families feel welcomed. What I've taken away from this whole experience is that yes, museum-goers do have a responsibility to respect the artwork and museum grounds, but museums also must respect all of its patrons and there was much of that lacking in our visit. It doesn't feel great to be in a place knowing that someone is watching you, waiting for you to make a wrong move because you know that is exactly what will happen.
I have no expectations that they will take my suggestions and implement them, but they would certainly do themselves a great service in listening to their patrons because it is such a lovely museum with much to offer in the way of educating everyone about art.
