London Museums Forced To Shutter Galleries As Heat Soars To Record Highs

The heatwave in Europe has taken down some unlikely victims with it, with cloud servers failing due to faulty cooling systems. Now, museums are being forced to close galleries in response to the heat. 

The UK Museums Association had raised concerns about museum staff continuing to work in hazardous conditions caused by record-high temperatures, with workers at one of the London museums even sending proof of internal temperatures reaching 35°C (95°F). 

Comparing the extreme heat to a snowstorm or hurricane, the employee queried why staff had to continue working, especially for front-of-house workers who were at higher risk of suffering ill effects of the high temperatures. 

Additionally, it was reported that the heat is damaging collections, with workers revealing that wax objects have been melting, and that the glue used to hold artifacts together has been coming unstuck. 

In response, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union called upon the British Museum and similar institutions to shutter operations for the remainder of the heatwave to protect both staff and visitors. 

“PCS has raised ongoing concerns with the British Museum regarding poor indoor air quality. As a world famous major tourist attraction, more should be done to improve the visitor experience and staff safety,” the union said. 

As such, the museum agreed to close at 3pm on July 18 and July 19, adding that upper levels of the building were temporarily shuttered to ensure the safety of staff and visitors. 

According to The Art Newspaper, several galleries at the Victoria & Albert Museum were closed, with the institution distributing fans and cold water to front-of-house staff and relaxed uniform guidelines.

Hearteningly, there are institutions trying to make the most of the bad situation, with the London Museum of Water & Steam inviting residents to cool down in the space for free and get free water bottle refills. 

Similarly, the Museum of Homelessness has urged other spaces to aid those experiencing homelessness in these dangerous conditions, such as by encouraging them to find shelter within their walls. 

Fingers crossed temperatures across the continent cool quickly, so that we can all go back to enjoying the best art has to offer. 

[via The Art Newspaper and Museums Association, cover image via Aliaksandr Kazlou | Dreamstime.com]