MUSEUM ETIQUETTE 101: What you shouldn’t be doing inside a museum

Words and illustrations by Art+ Intern Monique Cordero

Museums are a great place to come to for artists and art enthusiasts; whether it’s to learn, to find art that moves you, or just to kill time and bond with friends and family. But not every place can be treated with too much familiarity. Here are 10 things you must NOT do on your next trip to the museum.

1. DON’T post artworks without crediting the artist.

So, you’re at a museum and you feel like the piece you’re looking at is definitely ‘grammable. So, you take photos of it, no big deal. Suddenly you’re blowing up on the internet with your post of the said artwork and you got so much attention for it and people are starting to assume that this is your work. But you see, this piece isn’t yours and the attention should be diverted to the artist who made the artwork. The next time you post a piece, always credit the artist. Give credit where it’s due!

2. DON’T sit on the ledges

Long walks around the museum could be a chore and can get you and the gang tired. But that doesn’t really give you an excuse to sit on the ledges. It’s both dangerous and can ruin any nearby part of the museum, maybe even an artwork (which will cost you a LOT.) If you’re tired of walking around, just look for a nearby bench. Museums would usually provide them around the area.

3. DON’T openly flirt with your significant other

Unsolicited public display of affection (PDA) can be very irritating for people who just want to enjoy the art but have to see couples canoodling too closely out in the open. Not just that, you could also be blocking someone’s way, or you might be holding up the line to the current artwork you’re at. Be proper and be there for the art, the museum is not a place for you and your partner to kiss and hug. You can still be sweet with your partner without having to go all-out on the physical touch.

4. DON’T touch the artworks

You pass by an impasto artwork and see how the paint just embosses over the canvas, popping out and all. You see how textured the paint is and out of curiosity, you want to see how brittle the paint can get. Well here’s the answer: don’t. Some paintings have aged through time and curators and restorers alike have preserved these paintings with all their efforts, only to be botched by a smudge of a fingerprint. Respect the artist’s work and as well as the museum curators and keep your hands to yourself.

5. DON’T be too loud.

No man is like another. There are people that enjoy looking around at museums in silence. Have a sense of respect for other people who are in the museum with you by keeping the volume of your voice low. There might be elders who come around the museum who are very sensitive to sound, so be very mindful of your tone around the different people with you in the museum.

6. DON’T use flash photography.

Paintings, especially old ones, are very sensitive to their environment. One of the things they’re most sensitive to is the exposure to light. The flash in your phone or your camera can deteriorate the painting’s state, so make sure not to keep your flash on when taking photos.

7. DON’T take too long on taking photos of the installations.

If anything, we know for sure that you don’t own the museum so don’t take so long in taking photos with the gang. There are people who want to see the art for themselves like everyone else, so don’t hold up the line. Taking at leas two or three photos would suffice. Even one would just do.

8. DON’T go to the museum just to do a mini-photoshoot.

It’s okay to take photos of yourself in the museum, no judgment in that. But if that’s the sole purpose of your visit, then please take a step outside. It is disrespectful to disregard the art for what it is truly for, what purpose it serves, and it is disrespectful for the artists who dedicated their time to make the artworks in each exhibit you visit in the museum. Take the time to admire the work you see around

9. DON’T stay too close to the artworks.

Although this goes hand in hand with not touching the artwork, staying too close to the artwork can compromise the artwork’s environment. If you are wearing a bag, you might knock off other people, or worse, the artworks themselves (Which will cost you almost millions for the damage). So, keep half a meter’s distance when examining artworks to ensure the safety of the artworks.

10. DON’T go over the barriers.

The barriers are there to keep your distance from the artworks, going over them just defeats its purpose. Your proximity puts the paintings at a high risk of being damaged when you stay too close. Simply breathing into the painting at a close parameter, as previously said, can compromise the humidity of the painting’s environment, so stay behind the barriers to avoid any destruction towards the artworks.

What other museum mistakes have you observed that aren’t in this list? Let us know about them and what you think about it!