The National Gallery in London is tightening security measures after protesters attacked many of the historic museum’s priceless paintings, and visitors are now banned from bringing almost all liquids inside.
Starting Friday, visitors are not allowed to bring any liquids into the gallery except baby formula, expressed milk and prescription medications, the museum announced.
The press release said all doors to the National Gallery will be equipped with metal detectors and bags will be checked at the entrance.
The National Gallery in London has banned the sale of liquids. ZUMAPRESS.com
Visitors were also asked to bring as few items as possible and no large bags.
The National Gallery will also ban “the display or wearing of paraphernalia deemed offensive or associated with organizations that pose a physical threat to the collection” in addition to any campaign materials.
The moment climate activists throw cans of what appears to be tomato soup at Van Gogh’s painting of sunflowers in the National Gallery. Courtesy of Just Stop Oil/MEGA The new rules came into force on Friday. ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
There have been five staged attacks on some of its most popular paintings at the National Gallery since July 2022 – two of which occurred in the last two weeks.
Last month, Just Stop Oil activists poured soup on two Van Gogh works shortly after other members of the group were thrown in jail for tarnishing the frame of the artist’s iconic “Sunflowers” paintings.
“Such attacks have resulted in physical damage to artworks, distress to both guests and staff, and disruption of our mission to provide great art to everyone, everywhere,” the gallery said in a statement announcing the new policies.
Two of the major protests have occurred in the last two weeks. AP
“Free access to the National Gallery allows everyone to be inspired by humanity’s greatest achievements,” he added in a statement.
“The collection we have is irreplaceable and with each attack we are forced to consider placing more barriers between people and their works of art to preserve these fragile objects for future generations. Unfortunately, we have reached the point where we are forced to take action to protect our guests, staff and collections.”