Do any museums have a problem with food being brought into exhibit space?
Our museum is looking at how other museums address this problem.  If you
have a few minutes, would you please answer a few questions?  If there is
enough interest, I will summarize interesting/unique problems/solutions on
the museum list or answer individual queries.

Does your institution sell candy in the cafeteria or gift shops? If candy
is sold, how is it packaged?

Have you encountered problems (pest problems, daily maintenance, damage
to collections) with visitors taking food into the museum?

Is food permitted in your exhibition areas?  If no, how are
visitors discouraged from taking food/candy into exhibits?  Is it
successful?

Are catered events held in the museum? Is food limited to a
specific area?  Are visitors allowed to walk around with food?  Does this
cause problems?  Any suggestions to solve problems?

What is yearly visitation? What is the size of your museum?

Who is the staff responsible for clean-up? How many staff?  Is this
enough?

Thanks for any input.

Janis Turner, Conservation Technician
Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village
P.O. Box 1970 Dearborn, MI 48121-1970
phone - 313-271-1620
fax -313-271-8014
e mail - [log in to unmask]