The Mississippi Museum of Art's exhibit of Impressionist Masters exceeded expectations in a Covid-19 world.
Executive Director Betsy Bradley said the exhibit, Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, and Their Times, nearly broke even. She said there were approximately 20,000 visitors, 33% of what was expected before Covid-19. There were no school groups, events, or group tours. However, a one-third of the visitors came from more than 100 miles away. She said most museums "are running 25% of pre-pandemic" attendance.
It was a minor miracle the exhibit even took place. The shutdown started just before the exhibit was supposed to begin. However, the museum caught a break when it was allowed to add another three months to the three-month term since it was the last site on the exhibit's tour.
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| MMA Executive Director Betsy Bradley |
Pandemic or not, the exhibit was no exception to the old adage that it's always about money. The museum was very successful on that score. While attendance was 67% short of projections, revenue was down 7% from earlier exhibitions of French art (2013 exhibit and 1997 Versailles exhibit.). Store sales set a record while new members exceeded projections by 20%.
Kingfish note: You done good, kiddos. Attendance might have been off but everyone coming through that door was paying full freight and that, my friends, is the bottom line . Good work.
10 comments:
The exhibit was typical of many past efforts by the museum. It was great! They never fail to impress the wife and me. Looking forward to their next effort.
Is this still open? Would have went if not.
It was an amazing exhibit. People in New York and LA and Atlanta pay far more to see this level of art.
Laurel's Mark Landis could knock that painting off in one hour and at one "sitting."
Check out the documentary Arts & Crafts. He donated forged masterpieces to something like 22 museums.
When he was finally exposed, he was asked why he did it;he said that he "had become addicted to philanthropy."
He does family portraits now.
This was/is an exceptional exhibit, not be be missed by art lovers. We loved it. Like a breath of fresh air in a pandemic-infected atmosphere. We are so fortunate to have such a high caliber of art in our capitol city. Go see it is you can.
I went 3 times! Marvelous exhibit. Thank you, MMA!
When I took Art Appreciation in college I always got Monet and Manet confused. No wonder I made a C.
My wife and I went on the last week. Took our grade school child to get some culture. I really enjoyed it. Would have liked to go back and spend more time but I am glad it was successful despite Covid. I hate all the field trips that missed out. Would have been a rare experience for a lot of kids who may otherwise never have the means to travel to new york or France to see other famous paintings. Bring us another one for next year!
My only complaint was that it couldn't have been held over a couple of more months. Enjoyed it very much.
@7:4:43 p.m
In the 1940s and 1950s there were experiments to introduce art and music appreciation into public schools, beginning with the Demonstration Schools.I can recall Miss Blethen's third grade class at MSTC in Hattiesburg..introducing us to the works of Van Gogh and the 'peasant works" of Millett.
Van Gogh's version of The Good Samaritan being my favorite of which Mark Landis presented me a reproduction. me.
As for the music, we were issued black plastic flutes to learn notes snd scales.
The irony of all this is that the grandmasers of European culture were being bombed into the Stone Age by Britain's Bomber Command and the USAAF.
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