[Opinion] The necessity of museums and galleries

Some people claim that public museums and art galleries will not be needed because people can see historical objects and works of arts by using a computer. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

A number of people are of the opinion that establishments such as museums and art galleries are obsolete in the Internet era, as it is through this digital portal that citizens can freely explore the cracks and crevices of art and history. Despite acknowledging their reasoning, I disagree with this school of thought. 

Proponents mostly make an economic argument when it comes to the necessity of museums or art galleries. They tend to state that the Internet provides us with bountiful resources such as articles and high resolution photos to experience artworks and historical artifacts just as they are in real life. The fact that many museums, at the peak of the Covid pandemic, offered virtual tours, reinforced such beliefs, that it is possible for such establishments to be on their last leg. Furthermore, these institutions are mostly funded by the government and subsequently many believe that this funding should be reserved for areas that would have a more direct impact on citizens’ standard of living, such as our burgeoning public health sector or underdeveloped infrastructures.   

I believe that such arguments have little effects when looking at concrete facts. For one, funding for these places would only be a fraction of what’s required for other major sectors, but regardless would be already compensated for as these are popular tourist attractions. Most imperative is their role in safeguarding the historical and cultural heritage of a country and its people, as many museums hold artifacts and works that showcase and represent their identity.  One which takes pride of place is the museum of Thang Long court, a historical excavation site which currently resides just under the Vietnamese parliament building. The reason why Vietnam, a developing country, would spend millions of dollars in order to preserve such a site is because this was where the country first declared its sovereignty, and to this country, preserving this site is preserving its foundations and origins. Not only that, this museum encased every single brick of the Thang Long court behind reinforced glass, forever cementing the place just as their ancestors built it. Without museums, it would be impossible for pages of humanity’s history such as this be preserved and told to their descendants. 

Despite conceding the partial validity of the economic argument made by advocates who disregard the importance of museums and art galleries, I would argue that the role that these institutions play in preserving a country’s and its people’s origins far outweigh any financial setbacks that can be presented.