Institutions in Germany and Sweden have reportedly taken measures to increase security, such as banning bags and jackets
After a rash of widely publicized attacks by climate change protesters on iconic works of art such as Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” and Monet’s “Les Meules”, museums have begun tightening security, SVT reported on Wednesday.
Some museums in Germany have adopted bans on bags and jackets inside, according to Swedish outlet TT, while France’s famed Center Pompidou and Spain’s Prado Museum have also reportedly increased security in response to attacks by green campaigners linked to the Just Stop Oil group and its offshoots .
Patrik Steorn, director of Gothenburg’s art museum, revealed to SVT that the Swedish gallery had also increased security, but he declined to explain exactly how. Steorn admitted it was “a bit difficult to understand why our shared cultural heritage would be exposed” to protests such as Just Stop Oil’s stunts, which often leave protesters, artwork or both, covered in glue or food.
“We would much rather see social movements and museums try to come together to raise awareness of climate issues together,” he said. Four other Swedish museums declined to answer the outlet’s questions about securing their exhibits against unruly protesters.
Just Stop Oil campaigners have so far had little difficulty getting close to priceless paintings to submerge them in tins, often hiding their revealing t-shirts under sweaters and jackets. Security guards at the Netherlands’ Maritshuis Museum did not intervene to stop a well-known climate activist in the group from gluing the head to Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” last week despite alerting the painting and waiting patiently for him to finish his prepared statement before attempting remove him from the artwork.
That museum allows visitors to carry only “a small purse” inside but has been reluctant to search anyone, with a spokesperson telling The Guardian that it “can never 100% prevent protest action.”
Members of the group descended on the British Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing earlier this week for a final protest before announcing a temporary moratorium on action to give governments time to consider their proposal to ban all new oil and gas projects. Just Stop Oil is funded by oil heiress turned climate crusader Aileen Getty, whose Climate Emergency Fund also supports climate campaigners Extinction Rebellion.
(RT.com)
Source: sn.dk