Deborah Cooper very elegantly expressed all of the major concerns those
of us in preservation have with food in galleries, as well as providing
the perceptive comment that rules need to be developed in a manner that
engenders support, not creates dissension.

Pests and liability remain the two greatest concerns. There are the food
bits that are dropped, the food on hands that gets transferred to other
surfaces, and the food (grease) in the air that gets moved about spaces.
There is the catering staff that isn't familiar with appropriate museum
behavior or cleaning issues. There is the issue of how collections are
treated, knowingly or unknowingly, by guests (especially if alcohol is
served). In addition, there are the issues of theft, damage, and fire --
and whether the museum policy's would cover these problems when
galleries are used as food courts.

From a preservation perspective, I'd love to see food kept out of all
museums, libraries, and archives. But, I also realize that this, for a
variety of reasons, often isn't possible. So, appropriate rules limiting
where food can go; how events are organized; the responsibilities of
caterers; and appropriate security before, during, and after such events
are all means to ensuring a compromise that everyone can live with.

Best,

Michael Trinkley, Ph.D.
Director
Chicora Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 8664
Columbia, SC  29202-8664
803/787-6910
Email: [log in to unmask]
www.chicora.org