Stefano Pozzebon, Australia is banning selfie sticks from its museums, Business Insider Australia, 17 February 2015
Selfie sticks have been banned by some of Australia’s major exhibition centres due to fears of damage to artworks and visitor disruption.
Following a global trend of institutions preventing people from using selfie sticks, the Herald Sun reports that a number of Australian galleries have implemented similar policies.
The National Gallery of Victoria, the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra and the National Portrait Gallery have all banned the photo extension aids.
“Visitors are welcome to take photographs with handheld cameras in non-restricted areas of the gallery, for personal use,” National Gallery of Victoria director Tony Ellwood said.
“A handheld camera doesn’t include the use of selfie-sticks, tripods, lights or other equipment.”
A spokesperson for the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra told the Canberra Times: “We just can’t risk damage to the artworks.”
“Like our institutional counterparts, we do not allow selfie sticks due to the risk of damage to artworks and other patrons.”
The Heide Museum of Modern Art doesn’t allow flash photography or tripods and views selfie sticks as “a photographic implement” similar to these items.
