Museum

What are the advantages and disadvantages of museums in Britain ' A museum is a building or institution that houses and cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary(Alexander.E and Alexander .M, 2008). Museum is a place where people can learn about history and acquire technological knowledge and even know the culture of other countries. On the other hand, with the development of technology. Museums have to face some problems, such as the financial crisis, safe problem and even less room to put artifacts. In this essay, it will indicate these advantages and disadvantages of British museum, V&A museum and Natural History museum. And I will offer suggestion for the future so that museums can solve their problems. First of all, museum helps people to know the history. Most museums, exhibit antiques from different countries. For example, in the cast court of Victoria and Albert museum. There is a huge column in the centre of room, which is a plaster of Trajan’s column. It is a remarkable artifact. However, even if it is a copy. after 2000 years visitors can know the story of Trajan, who was a Roman emperor. Due to there is relief on the surface of column, we can learn about the details of Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars. Secondly, museum is the best classroom to learn knowledge. As for students, it is hard to remember knowledge through reading book. Because the knowledge in the book has less relevance to their life. Museum, as a big classroom. Teachers can show paintings, textile, sculptures .etc and at the same time tell their students the relative history. For instance, if teachers and students, or parents and their children go to Natural History museum, they will see origin of the earth and the specimens of animals. It is difficult for adults to explain how the water, wind, hydrogen and helium to form the earth. But there are projectors or screens to show the simulation of the earth work. Furthermore, not only children do just see them, but also they can feel them.Only if children touch the button will they feel the wind blow their hands. Most of children are interested in animals. When they see the specimen of monkeys and apes, they will distinguish their difference rather than their parents to explain. Last but not least, museum is a platform of international culture exchange. In the V& A museum, visitors can see a quantity of artwork from more than10 countries. Ordinary people can compare the style from different areas. And the artists may find the inspiration from them. The World Expo 2010 Shanghai, there are 32 collections from V&A museum in United Kingdom Pavilion (V&A,2010). Although museums bring positive influence to people, they have to face challenge under market competition. Firstly, financial problems. Many museums are not aim to make profit, so people do not need to buy a ticket to visit. The funding of museum comes from government and donation. But with the effect of financial crisis, government reduces expenditure and people focus on keeping their job. Museum has to face the situation of lacking money, such as the British Museum. In 2002,The British Museum was cutting 150 jobs after being warned that it could face financial a deficit in three years if it did not reduce costs(BBC NEWS,2002). Museum can not afford the wages of its employees. Librarians protested to lay off employees. So the museum had to close for a few days. Secondly,safe problem.As we all know that there are thousands of treasures in museum.Plus any one of them is valuable. The most important thing for museum is to protect the safety of artworks.Unfortunately,people depend too much on hi-tech product and ignore the wisdom of human beings. Some of museums were stolen , illustrated with Natural history museum. In 2006, a piece of 65-million-year-old fossilised dung was stolen(Telegraph ,2009). On the other hand, museum has poor management and the security officers are lack of accountability.As an example of the British Museum , in 2002, a Greek statue was stolen(Baike.baidu ,2010). Besides , October 29,2006. About 15 Chinese artifacts were stolen , including decorative hair clips, nail covers(Cangcn,2006). There was not no alarm equipment around stolen artifacts and security officers were casual. Thirdly,Room is not enough. Even though the museum seems so large that could contain many kinds of artifacts. Actually, that is not far enough. There are more than 23,000 Chinese artifact in the British Museum,but only 15%--20% can be exhibited(Cangcn,2006.) It is a regrettable thing for visitors who like them.What's more, the rest of artifacts can not be for safe keeping. There is no doubt that the contribution of museums in Britain about history,education and cultural communication.However, museum,as an agency which has nearly 340 years history. It has some inevitable disadvantages. In my opinion, some of these disadvantages could be solved if we take an effective measure. 1. Ticket of museum is not for free. It is unnecessary to have a high price,but could have acceptable price,such as 1,or 2 pounds per person. According to market demand,museum may publish some books or videos to introduce their collections to link history.It could be sold to internal school ,or even translated it into multiple languages to other countries. If this measures work, it will make museum have enough money to increase facilities. 2.Hiring volunteers to protect museum,and the same time training security officers half an year,and improve their wages. As for people who sincerely care about artifacts, they would like to protect them.But this is just a small group. If there are also professional security officers,they will work hard due to high wages. 3.Digital museum could be used in British Museum. Every exhibitions could be showed. In addiction, it enhances the safety and saves room. The existence of museum is meaning for people.They can trace history and look into the future. Therefore, people should keep museum's traditional advantages and make its disadvantage better. Word Count :999 Reference List Alexander.E and Alexander .M 2008, Museums In Motion , Altamira Press, USA BBC NEWS2002, British Museum cuts 150 jobs,viewed 30 April 2002, Baike.baidu 2010, the British Museum,view 18 Aug,2010, Cangcn2006, Chinese artifacts were stolen in the British Museum,viewed 20 December2006, Telegraph 2009,Dinosaur dung stolen from Natural History Museum , viewed 31 Jan 2009, V&A Museum 2010,Shanghai World Expo 2010, viewed 2010,