Nothing makes a museum security guard cringe more than an engaged and fascinated visitor reaching out to touch a priceless work of art. And for good reason. Those touches, especially cumulatively, can do some serious damage. Besides breaking or damaging the item outright, the oils on our skin will also break down the items over time. Perhaps the primary reason not to touch the artifacts is out of respect for their history and what they represent.
In light of these compelling reasons, why is it that so many people like to touch artwork? Some visitors may be attempting to connect with the ancient artist, imagining what it was like to paint or sculpt the item or how they felt while creating it. One visitor described their experience as “like touching the past”. Others may be impressed by the quality or weight of the item compared to the many “disposable” items we encounter today. Then there is the allure of new textures or materials we may never have encountered before.
There is no escaping the fact that touch is a powerful sense we regularly use to connect us with the world around us. It is also a sense that is difficult to shut out, especially when we are feeling inspired. This challenge for museum security professionals and others tasked with artwork protection isn’t going away. Regardless of the reason your visitors are touching your art, Art Sentry Touch Protection technology can help gently guide your valued visitors away from this habit while still preserving the immersive art experience.
So, what is the exact reason for all of the touching? Only the toucher knows...maybe even they don’t know.
But you might just want to consider incorporating some additional tactile exhibits into your space to satisfy their curiosity.
It’s a tall task for museums to protect their valuable collections that often feature artwork, sculptures, furniture, and other artifacts worth many millions or even billions of dollars. Museum security is a very complex challenge and has become even more difficult with the explosion of social media and the renewed focus on ensuring a positive, inclusive environment for visitors. Visitors are often interested in posting the “perfect selfie” with collection pieces which puts them at substantial risk and sensitivities run high with potential visitor interactions.
In 2014, the Butler Institute of American Art embarked on a groundbreaking project to protect its vast collection of American Art. The goal was to deploy Art Sentry’s object protection technology and completely protect each item in the museum’s collection. The Art Sentry system uses an advanced protective software barrier to invisibly surround each collection piece via surveillance cameras.
Proper lighting plays a vital role in the operations of all cultural properties and is often the key to successful museum exhibitions.
Art Sentry would like to announce that, to better serve our existing and future customers, we have formed a partnership with WESCO Energy Solutions. WESCO is the largest electrical wholesale distributor in North America and together we can provide a turnkey project.
Museums – and the collection pieces they contain – are more than just a fun activity for the family on vacation. These collections are critical for promoting social justice issues by showing us an in-depth view of the world’s history.
Why Humans Have Been Inspired to Create Art Throughout History
Art has long been a part of human culture, inspiring others and providing insight into moments of history.
From the first cave drawings to modern works of art, it is curious why this urge to create has pervaded humanity even in difficult circumstances. All the while being seen as an unnecessary luxury since it is explored for reasons outside of pure survival.
Art Sentry, the leading object protection and surveillance solution for cultural properties has partnered with Axis Communications to integrate the Axis Perimeter Defender product into its system. This feature is designed to extend the protection of cultural properties beyond the interior of their facilities and assist with the early identification of potential threats.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak hit, many museums and cultural institutions around the world have needed to temporarily close their doors. While this obviously affects the financial well-being of each of these individual institutions, the broad cultural benefits of museums in our country, our greater economy, and the emotional well-being of our society have been sorely missed.
Few things are more important to a museum than the security of its collection. Our cultural institutions are packed with irreplaceable items, and these pieces often have significant financial and cultural value. It’s vital for any museum to be able to keep its exhibits safe and secure in a cost-effective manner, which is exactly why Art Sentry art protection system exists for museums.
Are you facing cost reductions which negatively impact your ability to protect your collection? Many museums are deploying Art Sentry technology as a force multiplier to fill this security gap.