Margie;

My last staff appointment was at the Canadian War Museum which has a
collection of between 12 and 15,000 original works of war art. Almost all of
it is in storage, due to lack of acceptable quality display space. the
storage space is pretty awful as well, as the CWM collection is housed in an
old streetcar barn, within which a climate-controlled envelope has been
created to house the more sensitive collections, such as art and textiles.

The war art vault is extremely small. 10 to 15 people are the most than can
tour it and it is awkward even then, as all the mounted works are stored on
large roll-out screen racks. Move one out and you divide the storage room
into two sections!!!

Nonetheless, we do have tours, much as you do, and we have quite a few
researchers, though now that most of the collection has been digitized, this
has greatly cut down on the number of people who really need to view actual
paintings, if they are simply looking for illustrations for publications,
etc.

The art vault - and the envelope in which it is housed - and the building
perimeter are elaborately protected with a variety of security systems and
access to the war art vault is 100% controlled by the War Art Historian, who
accompanies EVERY visitor or group.

If you'd like more information, contact [log in to unmask]

Harry.


----- Original Message -----
From: val <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2000 3:03 PM
Subject: Tours of Art Storage


> Please excuse cross-postings:
>
> I am posting the following inquiry for a colleague. Please reply to the
list
> or directly to: [log in to unmask]" target="_blank">http:[log in to unmask]
>
> "I recently read the discussion on the list [Museum-Ed] about tours of
> collections, and
> they seemed to be mostly occurring in history museums. I am curious about
> art museums, and whether anyone is currently offering tours on occasion of
> their art storage areas. Ten years ago, there was a major attempt to "turn
> museums inside out" and provide glimpses of the inner working of museums
to
> visitors through vehicles like "open storage" and windows in conservation
> areas, etc. Has anyone out there actually accomplished this?
>
> Our security consultants strongly recommend that we not make any part of
our
> storage or vault areas accessible to the public, but on occasion we find
it
> especially appropriate to offer guided, behind-the-scenes tours for the
> public to meet the museum staff who work with the collections and are
> involved in exhibition design. Museum month is coming up and we are hoping
> to be able to arrange these tours for small (15 people max) family groups
> and high school/college students on "career day" type visits.
>
> We'd love to hear from any art museums who have such an opportunity
> available.  Thanks very much!
>
> Margie Maynard
> Curator of Education
> San Jose Museum of Art
> 110 South Market Street
> San Jose, CA 95113
> 408.271.6840"
>
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