Wondering if anyone has encountered harassing experiences from museum staff while visiting European museums? It typically looks like this:
You’re quietly and respectfully viewing artifacts, strolling from room to room, when all of a sudden the museum floor attendant approaches you accusing you of doing something against the museum rules you did not do but we’re reprimanded for pointing to an object to show your spouse or pressing an exhibit button used to give information about an exhibit and then followed & watched very closely as you walk from room to room as if you were going to steal an art object. Anyone?
My husband & I had a couple similar experiences in Portugal and Greece and after reading museum reviews it appears, unfortunately, this is more common than one would hope. Is it happening more to North Americans? What’s up?
Posted by
TX, USA
4848 posts
No, I haven’t. I have been to a number of Greek museums, but have not been to Portugal.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7900 posts
Could it have something to do with recent Sustainability-demonstration assaults on artworks in many countries? Are you dressed differently than other visitors?
Touching is certainly a problem in American museums. Sadly, many US museums are increasing the proportion of exhibits in display cases, simply to save money on guards. That creates a misleading sense of lighter supervision here.
Posted by
413 posts
I've seen people reprimanded for pointing across the ropes in front of exhibits, but I think that is against the rules.
I can understand why they would be vigilant - incidents of vandalism/theft/defacement seem to be rare but they do happen