The Campaign For Museums (CFM) is planning to take the public behind the scenes on the opening weekend of Museums and Galleries Month, which begins on Saturday 29 April.
The CFM has written to museum directors across the UK, encouraging them to get out from behind their desks and greet visitors as they arrive. Curators are being asked to meet visitors and talk about the objects in their museum's collections, and other museum employees are also being called into action.
Ylva French, the executive director of the CFM, said: 'This is an opportunity for museums and galleries to present their work to the public, not just from front of house, but also behind the scenes, from directors and curators to attendants, wardens and cleaners.'
Mark Taylor, the director of the Museums Association and a trustee of the Campaign for Museums, agreed: 'The popularity of TV shows that take you behind the scenes demonstrates that there is interest in what makes museums tick. This is an exciting opportunity to get people involved and show them the inner workings of our museums.'
Museum directors that have already agreed to take part include Virginia Tandy at Manchester City Galleries, Rosalind Savill at the Wallace Collection, Charles Saumarez Smith at the National Gallery, Sandy Nairne at the National Portrait Gallery, Jack Lohman at the Museum of London, Julia Peyton-Jones at the Serpentine Gallery, Alec Coles at Tyne and Wear Museums, Rita McLean at Birmingham Museums and Heritage and Mark O'Neill at Glasgow Museums and Galleries.
Saumarez Smith, the director of the National Gallery, said: 'I am a long-standing supporter of Museums and Galleries Month and so I am happy to assist its launch next year.'
For details, visit: www.mgm.org.uk
The CFM has written to museum directors across the UK, encouraging them to get out from behind their desks and greet visitors as they arrive. Curators are being asked to meet visitors and talk about the objects in their museum's collections, and other museum employees are also being called into action.
Ylva French, the executive director of the CFM, said: 'This is an opportunity for museums and galleries to present their work to the public, not just from front of house, but also behind the scenes, from directors and curators to attendants, wardens and cleaners.'
Mark Taylor, the director of the Museums Association and a trustee of the Campaign for Museums, agreed: 'The popularity of TV shows that take you behind the scenes demonstrates that there is interest in what makes museums tick. This is an exciting opportunity to get people involved and show them the inner workings of our museums.'
Museum directors that have already agreed to take part include Virginia Tandy at Manchester City Galleries, Rosalind Savill at the Wallace Collection, Charles Saumarez Smith at the National Gallery, Sandy Nairne at the National Portrait Gallery, Jack Lohman at the Museum of London, Julia Peyton-Jones at the Serpentine Gallery, Alec Coles at Tyne and Wear Museums, Rita McLean at Birmingham Museums and Heritage and Mark O'Neill at Glasgow Museums and Galleries.
Saumarez Smith, the director of the National Gallery, said: 'I am a long-standing supporter of Museums and Galleries Month and so I am happy to assist its launch next year.'
For details, visit: www.mgm.org.uk
