‘These attacks have to stop’

The following is an open letter from the National Museum Directors’ Council (NMDC):

We are writing as members of the National Museum Directors’ Council (NMDC), which represents the leaders of the UK’s national collections and major regional museums. Over the past few years UK museums and galleries, the artworks they contain, and by extension the people who visit and those who work there, have increasingly become the targets of protest action. Whilst we respect the right for people to protest, and are often sympathetic to the cause, these attacks have to stop. They are hugely damaging to the reputation of UK museums and cause enormous stress for colleagues at every level of an organisation, along with visitors who now no longer feel safe visiting the nation’s finest museums and galleries.

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 Haywain and Velázquez’s Rokeby Venus. Such attacks have caused physical damage to the artworks, distress to visitors and staff alike, and disruption to our collective mission to ensure great art and artefacts are available for everyone, everywhere to enjoy.

Two of these attacks have happened in the last two weeks, and that is why we have decided now is the moment for us to speak out. Our UK museums and galleries are an integral part of society, where free access allows everyone to be inspired by humanity’s greatest achievements.

The collections we hold are irreplaceable and with each attack we are forced to consider putting more barriers between the people and their artworks to preserve these fragile objects for future generations. The world is currently in a very dark place, but these demonstrations now need to be taken away from our museums and galleries so that they can continue to provide light and solace to all.

UPDATE 11 October: In response to the letter, a spokesperson for Just Stop Oil told The Art Newspaper: “If the NMDC believes the biggest threat they face is nonviolent protest, they should speak to the staff that are now sleeping in Florida’s Salvador Dali museum after their houses were destroyed by a supercharged hurricane.”