The National Gallery in London has announced a tightening of security as visitors enter.
It announced today that visitors will no longer be allowed to bring in liquids, with the exception of baby formula, expressed milk and prescription medicines.
It added “we urge all visitors to bring minimal items with them including no large bags.”
The gallery said bags and rucksacks will continue to be inspected, and it anticipates a longer wait for visitors to get through security and into the building.
“We anticipate it will take longer to access the Gallery and we apologise for this inconvenience in advance of your visit,” it said in a statement.
A specific reason for the move was not given by the gallery who cited only “recent incidents” as the cause of the measures, which are hoped to “ensure the safety of all who visit, National Gallery staff and the nation’s collection of paintings.”
Last week the gallery was again the location of a political demonstration which saw two supporters of young campaign group Youth Demand paste a photo onto the protective glass protecting Pablo Picasso’s 1901 painting ‘Motherhood (La Maternité), before pouring red paint on the gallery floor.
The gallery has since told Advisor that the painting suffered no damage.
A group of museum leaders from the National Museum Directors’ Council (NMDC) published an open letter last week calling for an end to protests carried out inside museums and galleries.
Just Stop Oil, one of the protest groups whose members have taken part in protests within the country’s museums, galleries, and heritage attractions, alongside political action group Youth Demand, published a response, calling for a meeting with NMDC.
“People disrupt museum and gallery spaces to break the illusion that everything is fine. We need institutions to confront their responsibilities at this time – head on,” the groups wrote.
Advisor understands that the NMDC currently has no plans to meet with the group.
Update: 17 October 2024, 14:39
The National Gallery has now specified that the new ban on liquids will come into force on Friday 18 October 2024.
A statement from the gallery reads: “Since July 2022, the National Gallery alone has been the victim of five separate attacks on iconic paintings such as Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, John Constable’s The Hay Wain and Velázquez’s Rokeby Venus.
“Such attacks have caused physical damage to the artworks, distress to visitors and staff alike, and disruption to our mission to ensure great art is available for everyone, everywhere to enjoy.
“Two of these attacks have happened in the last two weeks, and that is why we have taken the difficult and unfortunate decision to change the way we operate for the foreseeable future.
“We urge all visitors to bring minimal items with them including no large bags.”