Museums and art galleries suffered immensely during various phases of lockdown around the world, especially the small and up and coming ones. Cancelled shows, deferred projects, laying off staff, operating income drying up, everything had come to its worst. Many didn’t know if they would pull through and among those who have managed to stay afloat are the ones who leveraged social media’s potential.
While museums were struggling with the finances an equally profound question came into foray- how relevant is the institutional model of art museums in these times. It is possible to have a virtual show, open to a much diverse audience around the world, then what is the need of the gatekeeping? And isn’t it time to confront ‘art’ that is entrenched in social inequalities and racial injustices? If art is defined as a reflection of the society then it is time that galleries go beyond tokenism and promote critical thinking of art of our past and wholeheartedly promote a diversified art experience and artists now. Museums need to focus on cultivating an engaging and reciprocal relationship with the visitors and step down from the pedestal of intellectual superiority. If not, these museums may get reduced to the role of a rudimentary custodian of artworks and artefacts rather than the place aiding in addressing its community’s social needs, in front of the younger generation at least. There are, of course, museums that are truly bending the traditional rules and are looking at the community, not away from it but that should not be enough. Artists and gallery owners around the world are having an awakening following the distressing turn of events caused by the Coronavirus pandemic and that is why this year will be a watershed moment in the history of art and museums, it will usher in a new kind of museum- one that is more mindful, respectful of its audience, diverse with its artists and presenters, aware and actively working to dismantle institutional barriers and discrimination and one that will archive history, not from the point of view of a white man.
