Jeremy Warren, head of collections, the Wallace Collection, London
No: The question is not so much whether it is realistic to display museum objects in commercial outlets - it is technically quite possible to do this, provided environmental and security requirements can be met - but rather, is it desirable? I would say that no, it is not.
The notion of placing museum objects in commercial premises, for example pubs or shops, has been floated a number of times in recent years. Museums have to compete in an ever more crowded market for people's free time - shops and pubs being of course among the fiercest competition of all.
Within the leisure market, however, the unique selling point of the museum experience is the fact that museums are the place to go to see the real objects, the places to connect with the potency and magic of our past, of other civilisations, of our world.
As the web grows ever bigger in our lives, this magic of the original object will surely become ever more attractive to many people. So this is a great and extraordinary asset which only museums have - let's not throw it away.
We all want to increase access, so to bring more people in to our museum buildings we may all have to continue to work hard, to make museums even more attractive and welcoming.
But doing that at least shows a confidence in museums and what they are about, while sending our collections out into the shopping malls smacks of gimmickry or even desperation.
Tony Baker, a Friend of Harrogate Museums
Yes: It is a pity that the excellent ideas and suggestions of the director of the MA, Mark Taylor [which he made on BBC Radio 4's Today programme] for displaying artefacts in public areas and commercial outlets met with criticism. I hope it doesn't result in a good idea being wasted.
As a local councillor for many years, I am well aware that in most towns the museums services always struggle to raise their political profiles, while the swimming pools and sports pitches get all the glory. But museums must then always be looking for alternative ways to raise their profiles with both the public and the politicians.
Most museums have reserve collections of comparatively low-value objects that could be displayed in public and commercial buildings to highlight and promote themselves and their work - and the displays may even obtain sponsorship from the commercial outlets, which would be a welcome bonus.
The profiles of local museums would be raised, and public interest increased if, for example, white goods stores could display relelvant artefacts, such as early washing machines, or electrical goods stores exhibited pre-war televisions and radios.
Travel agents could display old travel posters and objects from other countries to encourage travelling, and supermarkets could display early packaging, and examples of advertising, of pretty well any consumable product. More to the point, they could even be persuaded to pay for the privilege.
No: The question is not so much whether it is realistic to display museum objects in commercial outlets - it is technically quite possible to do this, provided environmental and security requirements can be met - but rather, is it desirable? I would say that no, it is not.
The notion of placing museum objects in commercial premises, for example pubs or shops, has been floated a number of times in recent years. Museums have to compete in an ever more crowded market for people's free time - shops and pubs being of course among the fiercest competition of all.
Within the leisure market, however, the unique selling point of the museum experience is the fact that museums are the place to go to see the real objects, the places to connect with the potency and magic of our past, of other civilisations, of our world.
As the web grows ever bigger in our lives, this magic of the original object will surely become ever more attractive to many people. So this is a great and extraordinary asset which only museums have - let's not throw it away.
We all want to increase access, so to bring more people in to our museum buildings we may all have to continue to work hard, to make museums even more attractive and welcoming.
But doing that at least shows a confidence in museums and what they are about, while sending our collections out into the shopping malls smacks of gimmickry or even desperation.
Tony Baker, a Friend of Harrogate Museums
Yes: It is a pity that the excellent ideas and suggestions of the director of the MA, Mark Taylor [which he made on BBC Radio 4's Today programme] for displaying artefacts in public areas and commercial outlets met with criticism. I hope it doesn't result in a good idea being wasted.
As a local councillor for many years, I am well aware that in most towns the museums services always struggle to raise their political profiles, while the swimming pools and sports pitches get all the glory. But museums must then always be looking for alternative ways to raise their profiles with both the public and the politicians.
Most museums have reserve collections of comparatively low-value objects that could be displayed in public and commercial buildings to highlight and promote themselves and their work - and the displays may even obtain sponsorship from the commercial outlets, which would be a welcome bonus.
The profiles of local museums would be raised, and public interest increased if, for example, white goods stores could display relelvant artefacts, such as early washing machines, or electrical goods stores exhibited pre-war televisions and radios.
Travel agents could display old travel posters and objects from other countries to encourage travelling, and supermarkets could display early packaging, and examples of advertising, of pretty well any consumable product. More to the point, they could even be persuaded to pay for the privilege.
