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When the coronavirus pandemic swept the world, museums, galleries and other cultural institutions closed their doors tightly to visitors. New life - new rules. Today's reality is the so-called social distancing. But don't worry. Some virus is not able to deprive humanity of culture. Many of these establishments have moved online. This selection contains a list of the most interesting museum exhibits so that you can join the achievements of world culture without waiting for the moment when these places will open again.
The crisis is sometimes good
2020 was not only a time of crisis and general anxiety. This year has become a landmark for all enterprises and business areas in the field of innovation and introspection. Museums and art galleries are no exception.
Cultural institutions are often used to relying on international tourism. In every city in the world where it was, they suddenly found that travel bans were simply ruining their business.
Among such institutions there were also those that unexpectedly discovered a certain positive aspect. These are mainly smaller regional museums. After all, it was they who suddenly turned practically into places of pilgrimage for local citizens.
New rules
A selection of various interesting exhibits from different places, for every taste. Your inner snob should like it.
Almost every museum in the US has expanded its digital offerings. Various online exhibitions, curator video chats and virtual children's events were organized.
Many had to rethink their thematic focus and the number of exhibits. Especially the States, where this area has been affected not only by global technological changes, but also by social upheavals. The protests against racial and social injustice were reflected in their art.
Workers in museums, galleries and other public institutions have probably learned more about the fight against viruses this year than in their entire lives before. Organization of the workplace, disinfection, ventilation and principles of airborne transmission of the virus. Full list!
This knowledge has prompted many leaders to open up again, taking precautions (masks, social distancing). Then they all closed again, after the outbreak of coronavirus infection. But the experience remained.
“In the decision-making process, we try to be as clear, fair and transparent as possible. Everyone looked at the level of contamination and knew that it was a question of when, not if we closed again,”said Hayley Haldeman, head of one of the museums.
The declines and spikes in cases of the virus have led galleries in London, Paris and Rome to reopen in early summer and close again in the fall. At the end of the year, there was a new wave of coronavirus and quarantine was introduced in many countries.
Many museums are on the verge of never reopening their doors. The crisis has prompted some leaders to make very bold and creative efforts to simply survive.
Everything is slowly reviving, and so is the cultural sphere
All cultural institutions began to slowly receive tourists.New conditions: special stickers on the floor, guards watching the wearing of masks. Many museums sold limited-time admission tickets.
Of course, all these measures and the world situation have led to a decrease in the usual flow of tourists by more than half. In addition, some establishments live off charitable donations, while others live off ticket sales and rental venues for cultural events. Those who found the opportunity to support the local authorities were more fortunate.
According to a recent poll by the International Council of Museums, about 95% of all museums worldwide have been closed due to the pandemic. Various art galleries reacted somewhat differently to the bans. Some had to send employees on vacation, while others laid off most of their employees.
Many museums have survived. They have been able to successfully focus on expanding their digital archives and social media activities. They continue in the same spirit today.
If you are interested in museums and art in general, read our article 5 little-known facts about one of the most popular museums in the world: the secrets of the Louvre
