On the 1st
of February, I went to the Groninger Museum with the rest of my seminar group
(from Passions of Tourism, see introduction). We met up with the art director, Andreas
Blühm, who told us something about the history of museums in general and the
history of the Groninger museum in specific. He also explained us the reasons of the museum's succes: both the location and the unique architecture. The museum is
location on the bridge between the station and the city centre, which means
that everyone who visits Groningen by train has to pass the museum. Moreover,
the architecture is modern and eye-catching, with lots of colours.
Hazel Tucker, a tourism scholar who has researched tours in New Zealand ethnographically, lays her focus on the way tourist performances are constructed. In her research, she describes the interaction between the tour guide and the tourists.[1] In a museum, a similar experience occurs. Here, the way the museum presents itself influences how tourists perceive it, and the other way around: how the tourists perceive the museum influences how it is presented. Mr. Blühm explained that the museum is not known for its collection, but more for its role in the region and its ‘look’. Stating this, the museum attracts different tourists than for example the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh. These tourists know what is inside the museum and come to see, for example, the Nachtwacht. Thus, they might only focus on a specific piece of art, while people who visit the Groninger Museum come in more ‘open minded’. This is just an example of how the performance of a museum influences the mindset of tourists. It could also work the other way around: because tourists are attracted by the ‘look’ of the museum, it is not necessary to find a popular piece of art in order to attract the tourists. In the end, I would like to thank Mr. Blühm for his interesting lecture.
- Tessa
[1] Hazel Tucker, "
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