The best family days out in London and beyond rated by kids and teens
Published: 11th March 2015
A few months ago we reported the banning of selfie sticks at some London football clubs and now art galleries in the capital are following suit. The National Gallery has become the first to officially ban selfie sticks with the British Museum and National Portrait Gallery in the process of reviewing their policy on them.
Already many American and French museums and galleries have implemented the ban. These include the Smithsonian Museums in Washington DC and New York and the Palace of Versailles in Paris.
This is what a selfie stick looks like, if you have been sleeping for the past six months.
Art critics have welcomed the ban as some, such as Brian Sewell, the art critic for the Times, believes that constant taking photos takes away from others enjoying the amazing artwork available in London galleries. They could also be dangerous to the very valuable artworks in London galleries and museum.
No one would want to be the person who accidentally destroys a priceless Renaissance masterpiece with a selfie stick.
Mar Dixon, who organises an annual Museum Selfie Day, agrees that selfie sticks should be banned, but that selfies taken the old fashioned way with your arm stretched out are a great way of engaging younger generations with culture. Look up #museumselfieday to see some of the 13,000 selfies taken on the day in January this year.
Our tip for a visit for the National, however, is to bring a sketch and go really old school and try and recreate your favourite paintings inside. You can given get a little stool from the gallery so you really feel like a proper artist. Everyone will respect you for your creative flair and no one will think you’re an obnoxious narcissist. Win-win.
