How high are the ceilings in your museum?  I used to work at a natural history museum that did not allow any helium balloons to be brought in, even for special events.  The explanation I got for the rule is that the museum has a very high atrium, and it's simply a huge pain in the butt to retrieve a balloon once it has risen to the ceiling.  There may also have been concern over strings getting snagged on artifacts, but the high-ceiling issue was the main rationale for the ban.  

Margo Edwards


-----Original Message-----
>From: Jim Meeks <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: May 8, 2006 1:58 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Balloons in Museums
>
>We have had several instances where children were allowed to take balloons 
>into the exhibit spaces. We haven't had anything happen yet and the current 
>policy is that it's OK for the children to have them, especially since we 
>gave them out as part of an activity. 
>
>My fear is that a child will not be paying attention (nor will their 
>parents or the security guard) and the string will get caught on an ornate 
>frame or some 3-D work of art and something will get damaged or it will 
>come crashing down on the child or who knows what.
>
>Does anyone else have a policy regarding balloons being allowed in their 
>permanent collection and special exhibit galleries? 
>
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