The ban on photography at the Museum - a reasonable measure or a violation of civil rights?

ban on photography at the Museum - a reasonable measure or a violation of civil rights? Members of the band "Community Orsay, emerged last year after the ban on photography at the Museum d'Orsay, protesting against the new rules an original way. Every month they come in a large group of museum halls and begin taking pictures all around, despite the prohibitory. When suitable guards, amateurs willing to explain to them our position. Employees Orsay removed back home, and photographers to join the protesters and visitors, noting that "it became possible».

After several similar actions prohibiting signs became less. The members of the Community Orsay "see this as an approximation of victory. The protesters believe that the ban on image contradicts the image of a modern museum, living in an age of high technology. After shares of commoners "simple visitors in the guest book are beginning to take their side, calling the ban" outrageous "," old fashioned "and" provoking a passive attitude in the audience ».

Some of the" Communities Orsay " see its ban on economic reasons: if public funding of cultural sites is reduced, the museums are trying to make more money on reproductions and souvenirs. And so are more interested in the products of visitors to prohibit them from making their own photographs of works of art.

Orsay Museum dismisses such "commercial" reasons. In their version, the ban imposed due to the fact that too many photos done at arm's length using mobile phones. In addition, reproductions of almost all products can be downloaded from the site of the museum.

participant "Communities Orsay" Bodu Patrick (Patrick Beaudouin) even wrote a letter to the Minister of Culture Frederic Mitterand (Frédéric Mitterrand) to the question of as to whether the action of the Musée d'Orsay policy of "cultural democracy". In the address, he also pointed out the illegality of the ban on photographing works of art owned by the nation. Minister has left the letter unanswered.

How to cope with this problem other museums? The Louvre, for example, has already tried to introduce a similar ban in 2005 but soon abandoned this idea: too often it broke. Now you can not shoot only in temporary exhibitions because of copyright protection. A national treasure - "Click with" health!

As in most European museums, photographing them is allowed, but only without damaging the flash for pictures. Prado had just photographed completely banned, as to prevent the flash failed.

Some museums even encourage photography. So, at the London Victoria and Albert Museum there is even a dedicated resource on the Internet, where viewers can share their images. The British Museum signed an agreement with the site Wikipedia, which is widely disseminated through information and pictures of their exhibits. A Versailles even launched a photo contest "Versailles in the photographs. 1850-2010 ».

material was prepared by Maria Onuchina, AI

Sources: artinfo.com , artinvestment.ru