Museum Mad .... or Museum Sane!?

There are quite literally reasonable to great quality museums in every nok and cranny. Is Europe museum mad or something, or maybe there is sanity in the 'madness'. As much as school/old folks groups are the bane of my existance (can't stand being in a room appreciating art and then all of a sudden being ambushed by the lack of manners that people generally have in Europe - that for another time in itself), they are probably the best thing for building 'appreciation'.

Did however get me thinking. While in the Prado (Madrid), it was cool to think that this group of 10 year olds were having a school excursion to appreciate some El Greco work 'down at their local' museum. It was hard enough being in a country school. Not like you could just go and see a Shakespeare play like city kids could. It was such an undertaking for teachers to organise (transport 6 hours each way, meals, accomodation, bathroom breaks etc, and that is before the legal hassle of looking after kids who'd rather be elsewhere), they generally didn't bother.

These kids would be getting art like we'd get a rainy day. Being exposed at such a young age, so frequently, it would have to demistify it. Make it something more tangible than a grand piece of work in some famous museum in a land far, far away. As part of your history, becomes a reinforcing element as part of your culture.