Hi, Lisa. Thank you for that thoughtful examination of the balance between
curatorial and educational needs. As the former director of a small museum,
I had some educationally deassessioned artifacts as well as reproductions
which gave visitors a truly "hands on" experience. These
artifacts/reproductions gave the visitor an entirely new perspective.
Sincerely,
Robin Le Van
Missouri Humanities Council

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Lisa Craig Brisson
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 1998 8:18 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Visitors vs. Curators


Fon,

One possible conflict between curators and visitors (though maybe better
phrased as conflict of purpose, rather than the individuals) might be the
balancing of preservation and access.

While the educational role of the museum is central to its purpose, in
most cases it is the job of a curator to make sure the artifacts (or art
or buildings or whatever) are preserved.  Often this means limiting the
way other people (visitors) interact with the item(s).  Sometimes
artifacts are too fragile to be exposed to even the most sensitive
exhibition techniques.  Some buildings can not be made easily accessible
to people with disabilities without destroying important parts of the
building.  Sometimes curators have to say no to an idea that would be
good for visitors but bad for the things they are stewards of.

Rather than talking about this as visitors/curator conflict, I've more
often heard it discussed as conflict between educators (as visitor
advocates) and curators.  As an educator, I'm always looking for ways to
let visitors interact with and experience our artifacts and buildings.
If it were up to me, I'd start pulling artifacts off shelves and passing
them out to school groups (not really but I'm trying to make a point).
It's the curator's job to remind me of the need for the special care of
those artifacts.  On the other hand, when the curator doesn't want to put
anything on exhibit (again, just trying to make a point) it's my job to
remind him or her of the special education role we have as a museum.
While this can be perceived as conflict (and negative), I like to think
of it as an effective system of checks and balances and another reasons
that teamwork is important.

I'm not sure if this is what your prof was looking for, but it's a
thought.  Good Luck.

Lisa Craig Brisson, Museum Educator
Mackinac State Historic Parks
(616) 436-7301
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>Dear all,
>The reason that I was asking about information on debate between
Visitors and
>curators, that is, because, it is the area that I will have to write
about in my
>exam, there is no further information for the question.  I am quite
confused as
>well.  So far in class it was all about access, curators providing
information of
>objects for visitors (while keeping in mind that the visitors are not an
expert at
>interpreting art or object as well as the curators themselves).  This is
what I
>guess my instructor meant to ask in the exam.
>If there are other areas that you could recommend me to explore on this
matter,
>please do not hesitate to give some advice.


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