The Practical Side to Museums

CEBU, Philippines — Many people take museums rather lightly, meaning they don’t regard museums seriously. They think that museums are simply storerooms of very old stuff. But those who understand better consider museums as hallowed grounds.

Museums are entertaining places to visit. They help people who are into historical, social or art studies. And for art lovers, museums are a place to indulge a passion or seek solace from the world outside. For art collectors, especially, these places work better than galleries in offering a level of objectivity about an artist’s work.

An art collector relates that before he buys artworks, he first studies the artists. He’d check out where they are from, where they studied art, what shows they have had, and which galleries represent them. And he goes further still – he checks at the museum shows the artists have had or, better yet, those they are scheduled to have.

Yes, art collectors go to galleries to buy art works. But the wiser art collectors won’t limit themselves to galleries; neither will they be so impressed with “just galley, gallery, gallery” on an artist’s résumé. While a gallery show is mainly commerce, a museum show can really help boost the reputation of an artist.

A director of art shows says that a museum show can be very influential for an artist. “It changes the price point, the popularity, the awareness a person has for an artist,” she explains. She cites as example a painter who had a retrospective show that ran for about three months at an art museum – and after it closed, the value of his existing works rose. This artist has been quite known since the 1960s.

A museum curator’s sanction can add to the value of the art, of course. The quality of the art work will be the same, basically, but the public perception of its value will change… many times better. The price may increase too as the demand rises, although there’s no guarantee.

It works in a similar way when an art collector loans his collection to a museum for a non-fundraising exhibit. It may just be an ‘outreach’ exhibit to give the public more reason to visit the museum. It works both ways – the museum gets to display the loaned art works for free as added attraction and the exhibited art works gain better public perception.

Museums also offer something to individuals with valuable things to keep, especially if these have public significance. The right place for such things is the museum, where these will be properly handled and cared for by trained individuals for safekeeping. At the same, more people will have the chance to appreciate the items.

In the end, however, the commercial gains that museums can spur for an art work is just pittance. The best benefits that museums offer are not practical but essential. Museums display art works not only for the piece’s beauty but for its significance as well. Like everything else in the museum, a displayed artifact has a story, tells a story.

A museum piece can tell something ultimately relevant to its viewer, in a very personal way. It can awaken the viewer’s sense of connection to all creation. His perception of his own value in life may change positively with the knowledge that he is part of the continuing human saga.