From virtual visits to Facebook, from podcasts to open access online platforms, the museums are coping up with the challenges faced because of coronavirus pandemic. The Museums around the world are facing a tough challenge of protecting the collections and paying the staff and dealing with other financial issues since coronavirus outbreak.
On the plight of the museums around the world, Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO Ernesto Ottone R said that the Museums were serving the public with all creative ideas. Noting that culture never stops, Ernesto Ottone R said that it was crucial that museums keep going as they just more than where humanity’s heritage is preserved and promoted.
Ottone also said that museums can bring all together when billions of people are separated from one another because of the pandemic. The Livingstone Museum, Zambi, is active through facebook and also its website. Assistant Keeper of Ichthyology at the museum Terry Nyambe was quoted as saying “Livingstone Museum is closed but active via Facebook and our website. Be wise, stay at home!”
Museums in Lebanon have also closed their door. Many of them have started virtual tours and also made available mobile applications. Museum of Black Civilizations in Dakar, Senegal, general manager Hamady Bocoum said that they were encouraging experts to film guided tours of all the exhibitions. And these would be broadcast on Senegalese television and will also be made available online, he added.
National Museums in Seychelles Beryl Ondiek stated that museums are helpful in breaking the walls that keep people apart. In this situation, Ondiek said that their museums doors were open and are available online.
With fund crunch, most of the museums are looking forward to the government as well local and other benefactors. The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, England, which largely depended on visitors, now thrives on Mary Rose Trust. They have provided funds for maintaining the museum.
Many of the museum directors and managers felt the need to protect several of the museums around the world once the catastrophe was over.
