Opinion
Uncomment: Elizabeth Rynecki on a lost chance
My great-grandfather, Moshe Rynecki (1881-1943), painted the Polish-Jewish community in the inter-war years. His themes included religious study and scenes of everyday life, offering a glimpse into a world before it was destroyed by the Holocaust. Although Moshe perished at Majdanek, many of his 800-plus works survived the war. Although many historians and museum curators …
Wales gets cultural education
What on earth is going on in schools in England? The government seems to have taken leave of its senses. Goya’s painting of Atlas devouring one of his children comes to mind. In September, Michael Rosen, Carol Ann Duffy and 200 other writers and academics became the latest arts and education professionals to condemn Michael …
We need to listen to critical reviews
Review sites, internet forums and social networks generate thousands of reviews, and millions of comments, about Britain’s museums annually. But are these rich opportunities to further how we understand our audiences or the domain of outspoken unrepresentative critics? A quick browse on TripAdvisor suggests a major museum’s current refurbishment is a surprise to visitors disappointed …
The conversation: Should we be charging for temporary exhibitions?
Hannah Redler is the head of Media Space, Science Museum, London; Julie Finch is the head of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives Dear Hannah New ways of generating income are at the heart of charging for temporary exhibitions – and possibly a substitute for charged entry to museums. We have introduced a charging system for …
The 2020 column: It’s time to confer
The three themes at this year’s Museums Association conference (11-12 November) relate to Museums Change Lives and Museums 2020. Tomorrow’s World looks at the future of museums from a range of perspectives, including the implications of technology for democratising museums, culminating in a session imagining what a museum would be like if it was designed …
Vox pop: Can museums prove that they are good for your health?
Carol Rogers, executive director, education, communities and visitors, National Museums Liverpool “We know that we can affect the lives of visitors by focusing our venue assets, collection expertise and resources on making a difference to people’s health and wellbeing. A growing number of museums actively reach out to connect with people living in poverty and …