The impact of the pandemic is forcing us to think differently about the future of museums, said Teti Hatzinikolaou, Honorary Director of the Ministry of Culture and President of the Greek Section of the International Council of Museums (ICOM). “From the first locks: “The general conclusion is that the museum of tomorrow will not be the same as yesterday.”

Last January, museums in the Netherlands reopened their doors, albeit suspended due to the pandemic, to protest that the government had reopened their hairdressers, gyms and nail salons, but not museums, theaters and cinemas. So, for one day, they offered haircuts, nail care, and fitness at their premises.

For example, at the Limburg Museum, the public attended yoga and zumba classes, at the medieval Mauritshuis castle in The Hague, a training camp was held, and at the Van Gogh Museum, the public received hairdressing and manicure services.

Today, Dutch museums are worried that the number of visitors is falling. It fell to 11.8 million in 2021 from 13.2 million in 2020, compared to 32.6 million in 2019, according to a report by the Dutch Museum Association recently presented by the Network of European Museum Organizations. But they are expressing concern this year as well, as they predict 2022 will end with 18.2 million visitors, or at best 23.8 million visitors, without achieving the recovery they had hoped for.

The data they provided, among other things, notes that the decline in income makes it difficult to organize new exhibitions and events. For example, the number of periodicals decreased by 37% compared to 2019. Total ticket revenue in 2021 was €310 million, up from €536 million in 2019. Many of the country’s museums are facing financial challenges, with smaller, municipal and private museums hit the hardest in 2020 as their funds are already depleted. At the same time, they are burdened by the rising cost of energy as well as materials for their exhibitions.

The Dutch government supported them with 121 million euros and the municipalities helped with 13 million euros (in 2020 – 12 million euros), despite being the main sponsors of 49% of the museums. The government transferred 410 million euros to municipalities in 2020 and 2021 to strengthen local culture.

First it was a pandemic, now inflation and tax increases, stresses Vera Carasso, director of the Union of Museums and the Museumkaart Foundation, speaking of successive difficulties, emphasizing that the government needs to invest in the sustainability of museums. The health crisis has had an impact and is spreading to the work of museums. The energy problem creates a new reality and rings a “bell” in European museums, of which Greek museums are not excluded.