Voces del Prado

Museums and Entertainment

Philippe de Montebello, Honorary Trustee, 1978-What's on

For me, the great challenge at museums is not to change. Not to play the game of doing fun things simply to amuse the public. Not that. The museum’s message, its mission, can be pursued through the electronic media, and that is undoubtedly important today. It wasn’t that important ten or twenty years ago, but today it is. However, that doesn’t change anything in the halls. The works of art? They don’t change. With high definition you can see all the details in the paintings, and this is something the Prado offers. That’s great, but it’s not an action that affects the rooms, simply a medium. The question of museums and entertainment is a matter of the museum’s overall attitude. Not the public’s attitude. It’s the message that the museum wishes to send out. The museum should project a serious message, one that tells us that you can enjoy a highly intellectual experience here, but also one that is visual and exciting. The works are, above all, visual items that reflect the artists’ passions. It’s not just a question of history. If people come and then leave after having experienced pleasure, then that’s a good thing. And it’s even better if they leave with the feeling that they should return.