Have you ever wandered round a gallery or museum and, after a while, flagged; feeling that you’ve bitten off more than you can chew? Did you ever feel that, in the immortal words of Tim Rice, “there is more to be seen that can ever be seen, more to do than can ever be done”?
Interior of Manchester Art Gallery, 1893-94 by Henry Edward Tidmarsh © Manchester Art Gallery
Then you may be suffering from museum fatigue. Yes, it’s a real thing and has afflicted museum and gallery visitors for over a hundred years. Back in 1916, curator Benjamin Ives Gilman noticed that visitors’ interest in exhibits dropped off as the visit went on. They felt overwhelmed when faced with more art than they could handle in the time available. No matter how enthusiastic they might be at the beginning, a physical and mental exhaustion overwhelmed them. Sound familiar?
“Leave me here. I can’t go on. You’ll have to see the fashion exhibition without me. I’ll meet you in the cafe.”
La Morte D’Arthur, 1860 by James Archer © Manchester Art Gallery
At Manchester Art Gallery, we believe things don’t have to be this way. There’s a different approach. MAG is a ‘Goldilocks’ Gallery—it’s not too big, not too small, but just right. You can explore it in about an hour and a half, but we don’t want you to experience museum fatigue. Instead, we aim for the opposite: to leave you feeling rejuvenated, rested, inspired, and able to enjoy the art. That’s why we’ve developed what we call the “Manchester Style."
The Manchester Style is a relaxed approach to engaging with art in a public art gallery. It’s an invitation to experience its collection in a mindful and restorative way, using mindfulness and slow looking.
Five years ago, we put a sofa and two armchairs in front of some artworks in an exhibition called And Breathe and the public went crazy over it. They absolutely loved it! So, we embedded the slow and mindful approach across the whole Gallery, with comfortable seating in other spaces, too.
© Manchester Art Gallery
We are the Mindful Museum and as so, we want anyone who comes through its doors to know that they can have that slow and mindful relationship with art.
In the 21st century, there are so many demands for our attention - notifications, inboxes, social media. It seems as though everything and everyone is vying for our attention. This constant fragmentation of concentration and awareness can lead to us feeling stressed. At Manchester Art Gallery, we are inviting people to contemplate the artworks, to slow down and savour the experience of looking.
The calm centre of our approach is our Room to Breathe exhibition; a haven, a place to rest and slow down; a chance to practice some mindfulness and slow-looking should you wish.
© Manchester Art Gallery
So, the next time you visit MAG, remember; there’s no rush. Take your time. Have a seat and enjoy the art.
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