Museums are one of the most culturally crowded and exciting places in a city. When you think of travel and tourism, you think of museums. When you think of school field trips, you think of museums. When you think of college classes and academics and even artsy instagram pictures, you think of museums. So if these are such unique and important hubs of culture, why is it impossible to stay awake in them? We all know the feeling, standing in a crowded gallery, surrounded by some of the most famous and studied paintings in the world, yet the one thing you want to look at is the little black bench in the middle. The only thing you can think of is when the family of 7 is going to to stop hogging the entire thing. What would happen, really, if you just sat down on the floor.
This is what’s known as museum fatigue, and it happens to all of us. There are many reasons why this happens to us, and it can be one of the most frustrating things to happen in a museum. A lot of times the most famous museums are difficult to get to, expensive or in a country very far from your own. This is what I felt on Sunday at LACMA. This was the first time I had ever been to LACMA and I knew that it would probably be awhile before I could go again. It’s hard to get into downtown L.A., I don’t want to inconvenience my friends who have cars and it usually costs a pretty expensive ticket, although that day it was free admission day. This just added to the pressure of seeing everything and enjoying yourself and knowing which pieces are the most important.
There are a couple things you can do to help battle this museum fatigue, and if you do them you can end up feeling happy and energized when you leave museums instead of tired and disappointed:
1. Eat a big breakfast before you go.
This seems like the most obvious one but it can be the most important. Being hungry while you walk through a museum can be one of the most draining things you can experience. You end up focusing on when you’ll get your next meal instead of the artwork around you. Also, museum crowds are a lot more frustrating to deal with on an empty stomach. Bringing snacks into a museum can be a little tricky, and know that once you sit down in an overpriced museum cafeteria, you won’t want to get up and go back to the art.
https://www.maidsheadhotel.co.uk/event/fathers-day-ultimate-big-breakfast-2/
2. Compartmentalize
In the end, museums are bigger and more extensive than anyone can achieve in a single day. It’s important to go into the experience acknowledging that you are not going to be able to see everything, and that’s okay. If the museum is one that you are not going to be able to access a lot, such as on a vacation or in a foreign country, it can be helpful to go online and find out what the museum is known for, its most famous pieces or which galleries and exhibits you think you will enjoy the most.
https://www.penn.museum/visit/museum-map
3. Do Your Research!
This is the most important step. One of the main reasons for museum fatigue is because you can become overwhelmed by the amount of painting and pieces of art around you. You have no idea what to zero in on or what any of them mean. Reading the synopsis on the side when you have no previous knowledge will just add to this fatigue. Before you make the trip, go online and find most famous works, what the museum is known for and browse the work catalog to see any that jump out at you right away. This way, when you go into a gallery and spot a piece that you recognize, you will find yourself energized because you have a bit of previous knowledge. This will also add to the experience of seeing it in person, as you know its significance.
4. Take Advantage of the Gift Shop
Each museum will always have a gift shop, sometimes multiple. Although these can be filled with overpriced souvenirs such as shirts and totes and keychains, stay away from these and instead take a look at the books. They don’t have to be the big research books or the expensive coffee table books, but instead the smaller, lighter books on particular artists, art projects, or subjects. These books are quick ways to become more interested in a topic or artist, and can lead you to more museums or just further your knowledge in art. This step definitely isn’t required for combatting the fatigue, but it could be a great way to discover a new passion!
http://www.buffalohistory.org/Visit/Shop.aspx
Follow these steps, and you’ll find yourself feeling better, happier, and more excited than ever for a museum trip!