British Museum: a year of records

[LCR]

I translated for you an article from Le Figaro on the British Museum and an interview with its director. I do not know whether it will interest anyone, but if among forumistov is Director of Museums, I think, they, these materials will be useful to


The British Museum: a year of records

Le Figaro, 31.07.2008
Eric Betri-Rivières

Between March 2007 and April 2008 the number of visitors to the British Museum has increased by 1 million, which enabled the BM to become the most visited museum in the world after the Louvre. The reasons for success.

Читать дальше... 

In England there was a revolution: Recreation Park in Blackpool lost the title of the most popular attraction of the British. From March 2007 to April 2008 (the fiscal year in the UK) The British Museum was visited by 6,049 million people, that is, a million more than in the previous year, which enabled him to dethrone the park-attraction on the famous beach in Lancashire and overtake his neighbor, a very topical and trendy Tate Modern Gallery (5.23 million visitors).

Amazing leap, if we compare BM with mastodons, as the Metropolitan (more than 5 million visitors), a group of museums in Berlin (950 thousand just in the Pergamon) and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg (2.6 million).

A remarkable result for this museum, one of the oldest in the world (it dates from the establishment in 1953), to give much more attention to the history and ancient civilizations, than painting or modern art. But the situation is changing: since the Norman Foster has established a glass roof over the courtyard of the museum, creating the largest covered square in Europe (17000 sq. M), BM readily exhibits contemporary art, evidence of that - a huge "Philosopher's Stone" by Jean Vanya ( 2006), standing at the entrance to the museum.

But this is only one of the factors explaining this stunning success. Figaro found ten other factors, and tried their rasshiforvat. We can not say that BM is the most attractive museum in the world (in 2006 the Louvre annually collects 8.3 million visitors), but its features suggest this museum is one of the most well-organized. The first component of success: 26000 sq. meters of space, 6 million items and free access to the permanent exhibition. Even this would be enough, but in 2012 in the north-western wing of the museum will open a new department, which will house large exhibition halls, as well as scientific laboratories.

But even without this additional area is known that taking daily BM 17000 visitors with capacity of 25000, thus, it has huge potential to increase activity. Louvre should be very vigilant, if he does not want to lose their first place!


The reasons for success

is remarkable conceived of the exhibition. They respond to critical issues of our time. Exhibition about the first emperor of China (September 13, 2007 to April 6, 2008) gave rise to reflection about the features and extraordinary constancy of this state. She has visited more than 850 thousand people. Despite the fact that the museum was open until midnight, often wishing there were too many, as the exhibition was designed for 400 thousand visitors. The result - an unprecedented success since the Tutankhamun exhibition in 1972 (1.7 million viewers) and the cash collected by 2,5 million euros. At an exhibition about the Emperor Hadrian and his time passing now, already pre-sold 20,000 tickets - it seems that its success will not give up the previous one.

How to explain such results? Until now, Adrian is the only ruler who managed to unite the Mediterranean countries (over 20 and years). To strengthen «pax romana» - in terms of inhabitants on the shores of the Tiber, is some form of mondialism - he withdrew from Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) troops stationed there by his predecessor Trajan. This strategy is a success, but in Judea, he made a mistake - too brutally suppressed the uprising of the local population, which led to the exodus, with all its known consequences. Here are the facts that are far from being indifferent to our contemporaries, on the contrary, it is impossible to find a more topical subjects.

But the success enjoyed not only a grand event, but also intimate, small exhibitions - for example, an exhibition of American prints from Hopper to Pollock attended by 200 thousand people. "Our goal is not simply to show works of art, showing that democratic forms of art, we reveal an image of America as it appears in the eyes of Americans," - says Neil MacGregor, director of the museum.

unite subjects. They are interesting not only British, but also to foreigners. At first glance, Adrian is far from us in time and space, but to think so - would be to forget that all residents of the UK know that he was the initiator of the wall that separates Scotland, not part of the Roman Empire, from England , part of it. The French name of Hadrian is known for his book "Memoirs of Hadrian", so that they are interested in it too. To summarize: BM, located in a country with a huge number of immigrants is simply obliged to establish a dialogue with all. You could even say that this museum - one of the rare places where everyone can find their own culture in many parts of the KOR, exhibits all the civilizations of the world.

Clear muzeografiya. It is difficult to get lost in the bright and spacious rooms, all the more so since recently temporary exhibitions are arranged in the center of the complex, in a monumental rotunda, where Marx wrote his Das Kapital. It is impossible not to find, it can be seen directly at the entrance to the museum. Set design is easy to read - the viewer enjoys a round space, great attention is paid to the pedagogical aspect of the show.

Free entry to permanent exhibitions. To balance the budget, tickets for temporary exhibitions of art of Yat expensive, 11 or 12 pounds - it is understandable that they should be extremely interesting. But even with an empty wallet, you can see the permanent exhibits - in England, all national museums are free. BM, its 350 volunteer officers and 17500 friends did not forget about his mission of service to the public. Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon, the wonders of the East, Asia, Oceania, Africa and America are open to all.

Organization of small "ad" exhibitions. Advertising big events made using the mobile chamber hits. For example, to encourage the public to visit the exhibition Hadrian, BM exhibited in six cities of the bronze head found at the bottom of the Thames in the 19 st century.

a lot of support. A friend of Tony Blair, Neil MacGregor, Gordon Brown invited to the opening ceremony of the first Chinese emperor, and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, was present at the vernissage of the exhibition "Hadrian, Empire and Conflict". In addition, the BM support "trastiz" - patrons, managers accompanying the museum in his endeavors. Bank Morgan Stanley "China has sponsored the exhibition," British Petroleum "- Roman. In addition to public subsidies, the BM is about thirty private partners funding a museum for a total of 40 million euros. Over the next five years, they promised to give additional funds to finance the expansion of the BM (the total cost of works - 135 million euros).

The skillful use of media. The Chinese exhibition showing promotirovali hour documentary on BBC2 (which looked at 4 million viewers). It sold 54,000 copies of the catalog, published in the pocket edition. Five days before the opening of the exhibition Hadrian was shown a magnificent reportage historian Dan Shaw. The director himself is not satisfied with his teaching work at the university, he - a frequent guest of the media. In 2010, he will present at Radio-4 "transmission" World History on the example of 100 items. During the exhibition on Hadrian himself wrote all the comments for autoguider.

Decent response to the criticism. When in 2002 Neil MacGregor came to work in the BM, the image of the museum was covered with dust. Many saw it as an outdated, stagnant organization, surviving from Victorian times. It is widely debated question of which side he should change - for example, whether he has the right to keep the Parthenon, which Greece calls for return to her? The museum then reminded of the purpose of its existence, formulated in the Enlightenment: a universal museum for all, the repository of treasures of humanity to educate the people of our time and future generations. And to no one forgot about this goal, the museum of curiosities was created King's Library in the style of the 18 th century.

A modernized management. Five years ago, the BM deficit reached 5 million euros, the museum staff for the first time in its history, went on strike. Neil McGregor was forced to reduce staff - every tenth employee was fired, the total number reduced to 950 (for comparison - in the Louvre operates more than 2200 people). At the same time he tried to inspire his "army" - a weekly dinners arranged with staff to discuss all issues related to the museum.

free, but invaluable services. When you enter the museum you can ask for some water for guide dogs, free guides for visually impaired. You can borrow a magnifying glass on bail of 5 lbs.



Neil MacGregor

Machine understanding »

Director of the British Museum since 2002, he enthusiastically conducts its modernization.

Before becoming director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor (born 1946) spent 15 years at the head of London's National Gallery. To his museum McGregor is more like the center of reflection on society than as a mere museum.

Q: They say that you have gathered to move to New York, director of the museum The Metropolitan Philip de Montebello will retire ...

NM: The British Museum - the most interesting place in the world. My work here is completely satisfied me, and besides, I think it is - my civic duty.

Q: How do you manage to guess what the exhibition will enjoy success with the audience?

NM: Just make it a show of the highest quality. I am against the culture of "trash" and cultural consumerism. British Museum - is the machine for understanding the world. Successful exhibition should help the viewer understand the present and imagine the future. After an exhibition about the Emperor Hadrian and his age (which takes place in the BM at present) we have scheduled an exhibition about the Shah Abbas (1587-1629), the great Lord of the Shiite Persia, who inspired the Iranian national identity, then - an exhibition about Montezuma II, Aztec emperor time of the Spanish Conquest. Getting acquainted with the rule of the rulers of the past, the viewer can not help asking myself questions at all about how people exercise their power.

F: China, Persia ... You are targeting to current events.

NM: I think it is not meaningless to draw attention to the first emperor of China before the Olympic Games in Beijing. Few of us knew anything about the man who founded modern China. Adrian is known here is much better, because he built a wall between the countries, which subsequently became England and Scotland. But who is remembered for his political failures on the ground today in Iraq and Palestine?


Q: What are the basic ideals of the British Museum?

NM: My collection - this is not the treasure, won the British Empire, it is - the treasures of all mankind. The fact that they are stored here, guarantee their safety. Look, for example, what is happening in Iraq: Since the second Gulf War, Baghdad museum is closed, his collection is kept immured in the basement. This means that currently Mesopotamian branch BM is the largest open-air museum dedicated to the history of Iraq. This - my way of reply to those who require the return of the Parthenon in Greece. Here you can explore all of civilization, and it allows you to realize that, despite their individual differences, each of these cultures can be understood by others.

Q: It - specificity BM?

NM: Yes. Major museums are usually self-centered. When you get out of the Louvre or the Metropolitan, you are left with the impression that they are mainly devoted to European painting. We are, despite the fact that we have in the collection is not so much material, think on a planetary scale.

Le Figaro, 31.07.2008