Guarding civilization’s art in a great metropolitan museum or a small town museum is an honor and a privilege. The more important the art, the greater the responsibility for the security personnel. And the greater the chest swell of pride. Our security guards would jump at the chance to serve duty in the Louvre in Paris. But, alas, we’re not called up for that. However, our highly trained and talented team is available for advanced-responsibility securing of any kind of precious treasure.
Security guards in special places can and do bring out their best selves. We know of a security guard at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. took the time on duty to curate a treasure hunt through the Gallery’s exhibition for a group of 11-year-olds. He wrote out clues on paper scraps for the kids, taking them through a maze of rooms filled with stunning, priceless art.
Today, the Baltimore Museum of Art took the time to shout out to their security guards “as seasoned observers of fine art and encouraging them to create the upcoming exhibit with support from esteemed curators. Breaking free of narrowly-defined roles, valuing both education and lived experiences, and encouraging diverse collaborations are essential to creating a more equitable and inclusive Baltimore.”