It's #MuseumWeek, an occasion that happens mostly on Twitter, but also in the very real hallways of institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Bilbao.
From March 28 to April 3, 2016, a regiment of hashtags is meant to raise awareness of the people, places and things that make art go 'round in the 21st century. Curators are sharing stories, famous havens are revealing secrets, audiences are recommending new ideas. All the conversations happening online, though, are aimed at directing you from your computer screen to the front lines of exhibitions. Get thee to an art museum!
So far, 45,000-plus tweets have mentioned at least one of the eight hashtags designated for this year's Museum Week. Our favorite -- and the first to be deployed -- is probably #SecretsMW, for which museums have been airing their deep, not-so-dark private affairs. Did you know Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to name the Guggenheim building in New York City the "Archeseum"? Neither did we.
Art nerds, here are some random facts you never knew you need in your life:
Did you know we have honeybees on our roof? #secretsMW #MuseumWeek #NewWhitney pic.twitter.com/O1ClvTDXoR
— Whitney Museum (@whitneymuseum) March 28, 2016
Two of our #Hoppers keep @POTUS company in the Oval Office. #secretsMW pic.twitter.com/9814yhmmMa
— Whitney Museum (@whitneymuseum) March 28, 2016
Did you know The Met has the largest collection of Van Gogh’s work in the U.S.? https://t.co/CDR4qMp1P6 #SecretsMW pic.twitter.com/vJCc26Eqa6
— The Met (@metmuseum) March 28, 2016
The Met has the oldest piano in existence created by the inventor of the piano. https://t.co/jhBwpOAmbW #SecretsMW pic.twitter.com/Fxx801bdvq
— The Met (@metmuseum) March 28, 2016
A Jenny Holzer Living series plaque is tucked away on Fl 2 near the bookstore. #SecretsMW https://t.co/UKhpBW9hRc pic.twitter.com/yAglnPuRAb
— Museum of Modern Art (@MuseumModernArt) March 28, 2016
A Ferrari 641 Formula 1 racing car hangs in our education building. #SecretsMW https://t.co/2rwv1zd71B pic.twitter.com/pTCPne9TH4
— Museum of Modern Art (@MuseumModernArt) March 29, 2016
What's (literally) behind Rauschenberg’s fabled "Erased de Kooning Drawing"? https://t.co/0oGN2iITSQ #secretsMW pic.twitter.com/c2KTlZVPLl
— SFMOMA (@SFMOMA) March 28, 2016
Frank Lloyd Wright wished to name the Guggenheim building the “Archeseum:” https://t.co/bhkenI7W4i #SecretsMW pic.twitter.com/kyDvAk20Mj
— Guggenheim Museum (@Guggenheim) March 28, 2016
Each of our sculptures in storage has its own preferred sleeping position. #secretsMW pic.twitter.com/gKmswkEcaU
— Hammer Museum (@hammer_museum) March 28, 2016
Each morning at the Gallery begins with a thorough dusting session from our Framing team #secretsMW pic.twitter.com/KhCTJ3vZg2
— Portrait Gallery (@NPGLondon) March 28, 2016
Our oldest portrait is of King Henry VII (1505), probably painted for an unsuccessful marriage proposal #secretsMW pic.twitter.com/qCfFO6lmCP
— Portrait Gallery (@NPGLondon) March 28, 2016
There's #fossils in the marble floor of the #NationalArchives! Do you know what this one is? (We don't!) #secretsMW pic.twitter.com/DyxOQ9bid1
— US National Archives (@USNatArchives) March 28, 2016
What does #backstage of the Globe theatre look like? Like this> #SecretsMW. pic.twitter.com/TqxcTkbJ0D
— Shakespeare's Globe (@The_Globe) March 23, 2015
The Museum is a ship sailing the river to unload all its art #SecretsMW pic.twitter.com/4jRO4CQXsQ
— Guggenheim Bilbao (@MuseoGuggenheim) March 29, 2016
Did you know that the gallery in which Richard Serra’s works are exhibited is as big as a football field? #SecretsMW pic.twitter.com/jguawI3DuV
— Guggenheim Bilbao (@MuseoGuggenheim) March 29, 2016
The stamps on this poster indicate that it isn't a replica—this print actually hung at the Moulin Rouge! #SecretsMW pic.twitter.com/pnNP4ynIMe
— SD Museum of Art (@SDMA) March 29, 2016
When building was finished & the lake was filled, the water drained out & flooded the underground. Oops #secretsMW pic.twitter.com/5QzrJrHqew
— Barbican Centre (@BarbicanCentre) March 28, 2016
We were founded by 25 women who sought to bring a different sort of culture to the cattle-focused city. #secretsMW pic.twitter.com/RJly8KbVEM
— The Modern (@themodernfw) March 29, 2016
Our resident egret Edgar follows visitors around each day, keeping two steps closely behind. #SecretsMW #MuseumWeek pic.twitter.com/0GYW0yGvIV
— Morikami Museum (@morikamimuseum) March 29, 2016
Our walls are painted in a custom shade of white called "HMA White" #secretsMW pic.twitter.com/8hfaMM1o4Q
— High Museum (@HighMuseumofArt) March 28, 2016
Our resident hedgehog, Bill Spikes is our best kept secret. He lives down in the basement kitchen #secretsMW pic.twitter.com/C5IezND3hz
— Dickens Museum (@DickensMuseum) March 28, 2016
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