The challenge of covid-19 in delivering museum services

A museum is a “non-profit permanent institution in the service of the society and its development, open to the public which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environments for the purpose of education and enjoyment.” ICOM,2007;  it is  a place where valuable  artifacts are kept, a melting pot of cultures and a meeting point for people of varying ages, gender, status and cultures. Thus, the museum houses, preserves and interprets varied cultures, history and civilizations besides harmonizing cultures. Museums also serve as places of self-discoveries and a source for community and nation-building through her displays and interpretations, the museum provides an avenue for people to interact with the exhibits especially on one-on-one basis. This is gradually being phased-out.

The advent of Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on the society (lockdown e.t.c) led to the shutdown of museums and in fact all other parastatals.Since the reopening of the museum after the lockdown of March, 2020, museums have been grappling with how best to achieve their goals in view of the numerous restrictions that are stipulated to minimize or completely avoid contacting the deadly Corona Virus.

One of such emphasis is digitization; but the question is, how many Nigerians can afford this?How accessible is computer literacy to the general Nigerian population? Can the museum effectively serve its purpose through digitalization?

This paper aims to highlight the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on museum operations, the ways in  which digitization is employed to remedy this impact and how museums can still remain relevant besides digitization.

The transition to digitization culminating to the widespread dissemination of digital information is one to reckon with. Needless to say,’ UNESCO museums around the world in the face of Covid-19 rapidly initiated web conferences in the form of webinars or meetings and talks via Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts and other video conferencing media’ Krishna (2021).Through these,digital media offered modes of experiencing the museum from afar.

THE COVID-19 VIRUS

The Corona Virus also known as Covid-19 is a virus that attacks the respiratory organs. It  originated in the year 2019 at Wuhan, China. It is transmitted via respiratory droplets from infected persons or airborne particles containing the virus. Generally, it has a 14 day incubation period and most patients do not survive it. Preliminary total mortality for year 2020 was in fact 3 Million. While 98% was at the European region, that of Africa was 10%.

MUSEUMS AND COVID-19 CRISIS

Museums owe the public the responsibility of providing information in an exciting and entertaining atmosphere (mostly natural habitat).This has changed in recent times due to the pandemic. It is indeed obvious that regardless of size, location or status, museums are facing tough challenges, ranging from the protection of collections to ensuring that staff do not contact the virus in the cause of their duty. Prior to covid-19. Cultural objects were made accessible to the public directly through in-house exhibitions and also physical access, this traditional model of the museums service delivery has changed enormously. The Covid-19 pandemic has not only disrupted the museum’s normal operations but threatened its extinction.

However, museum professionals have since swung into action by embracing the pandemic as a creative catalyst. In being resilient and innovative, museums are making a lot of efforts to adapt to the challenges presented by Covid-19 in order to support not just the sustainability of the museum but the cultural sector at large. Most of such efforts is tilted towards digitization. With digitalization, museum visitors are expected to go online using internet facilities such as the Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other websites. Through this, people can have contacts with museum displays and activities. Most often their response would be to; ‘views’, ‘likes’, ‘shares’, e.t.c. while the physical contact is relegated to the background.

However, a fair assessment of Covid-19 reveals that it has  rapidly facilitated the use of digital technology in museums. Digital images are easy to reproduce, aggregate and transmit ,thus having the potential for re-use. Also, scholars can easily explore text-based information about images, artist and subjects portrayed which will further enhance social and economic value

Obviously, in a dynamic and developmental world such as ours, digital transformation is good and in high demand, but can it replace physical visit? Certainly not in the third world and particularly not in Nigeria where people are grappling with how to put food on the table, pay school fees, get shelter and meet  other essential needs. The issue of buying data just for leisure becomes a farce for many.

Digital technology invariably cannot replace the direct experience of visiting a museum, so there’s need to strike a balance between technology and the visitor experience. Besides, we must always remember that technology is not an end but a means to an end.

Hence, no matter how we emphasis and popularize museum digitalization, the visitor centered approach remains highly beneficial and effective in museums.

It should be recalled that the cool, serene and inviting atmosphere of the museum increases relaxation and good health. While the internet satisfaction cannot be compared with physical presence in the museum. The fact that not everyone can have access to such technology constitute a  huge barrier.

Besides, a major shift to digitalization translates to the fact that a huge part of the museum staff will be paid-off or furloughed. This will consequently lead to an alarming rate of unemployment.

When staff are few, it also poses  some form of negligence and insecurity challenges resulting  in theft,looting and vandalism which becomes the order of the day. Durham (2020) asserts that “Museums are also vulnerable when closed”. Stating further that the “spring garden painting by Vincent Van Gogh was stolen from the singer Laren Museum at Netherlands during the March 2020 lockdown”.

Furthermore, museums lose a lot of revenues which they usually get from ticket sells, shops and other rentals. These can gradually affect the conservation of collections or general up-keep of the museum. Besides, The authority of museums as leading players in the authenticity, integrity and contextualization of artworks  and cultural heritage materials will be eroded.

For these and many others, it is best if museums put all hands on deck to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in order to ensure museum sustainability. It is pertinent for all staff to adhere to the world health organization’s recommendations of social distancing, wearing of mask and constant hand washing; but this is not enough. It  is equally important for the public to know all the museum is doing to safeguard them. This will encourage them to visit.

For starters, the general public should be well informed of the new protocols and the museums concerns. Such   announcements should be on Televisions, Radios, Websites and museum entrances. New protocols such as  “No Entry Without Facemask”, or “Stay Home If You Have Fever”, should be strategically placed.

In order to secure the well being of staff, which is paramount (as they attend to both visitors and collections), their work schedule must be redistributed in such a manner that they run shifts and take turns to attend to visitors. Their general working conditions should be improved upon. All staff should be trained and cautioned to meet safety standards that will curb the spread of Covid-19 e.g they should avoid touching the face; this means the females have to pack their hair backward neatly.

For the visitors, museums should calculate (using the 2 metres social distancing) and know how many visitors it can conveniently allow into the gallery at a particular time. Visitor’s movements from entry to exit must also be well-planned to avoid having them wonder away.

There should also be regular cleaning irrespective of whether visitors are around or not especially of exhibition halls. The authorities should identify frequently touched areas so that they are cleaned thoroughly and constantly. These includes; door-  handles, light switches, door frames, taps e.t.c, which can only be effective with close monitoring and supervision.

Furthermore, exhibition doors should be left opened to minimize constant or unnecessary contact. this will also enhance the circulation of fresh air to give room to good ventilation. All furniture that are not absolutely necessary should be removed from offices or galleries. This will create more space and equally safe-guard against the depositing of virus.

Emphasis that, hand washing must not be compromised even for staff must be re-echoed, and to encourage this, clean water along with disposable napkins should be in constant supply, along with this, the museum can also produce and distribute facemask to the visiting public.

All these are in the bid to make the museum free of Covid-19 pandemic and therefore more accessible. The museum can also try to get people’s opinion of ensuring their safety through the use of  suggestion boxes  which would be strategically placed.

Since more people have access to the television, the museum can have a steady programme where different aspects of the community’s culture would be taught in order to maximize its social impacts.

Most importantly, there is need for cooperation amongst museum staff. In rising to the challenge of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the unity of purpose is paramount.

It is true that many aspects of the museum can be accessed via internet, but we should always remember that the museum is unlike other organizations, it is a place where man comes in contact with nature. Besides learning, the yearning to relax in a natural, cool habit is one that can only be fulfilled with a physical visit.

The International Council Of Museums (ICOM 2007) definition of ‘museums’ emphasizes that the museum is meant for every member of the society but if all of museum works/services are tailored towards digitalization, certainly some segments of the society will be marginalized due to lack of resources or skills.

In conclusion, we must therefore not forget the 2021 International Museum Day theme which says “The Future of Museums: Recover and Imagine”, which aims at “Creating, Imaging and Sharing new practices of co-creation of value, new business models for cultural institutions for the social, economic and environmental challenges of the present”.it is in view of this that all hands must be on deck to ensure the museum does not deviate from its purpose of serving the public in her original fashion. For with digitization, museums in Nigeria would satisfy only a few and this  can lead to isolation rather than integration.