In these quarantine days when Netflix and Instagram have become our best friends, Musement has put together a list of profiles of ten of the most active cultural institutions you should follow on Instagram.
While the 24/7 forced cohabitation can sometimes test our nerves, Instagram never disappoints! We’re not going to lie to ourselves, in these days of quarantine we spend a lot more time on social networks. But let’s try to use this time wisely and make the most of it.
Used as an interactive showcase by many cultural centers, Instagram lets institutions to create communities of their own and to inform its members in real-time. This is why we have decided to put together a list of ten profiles to follow to keep up with their various initiatives, current or planned exhibitions, upcoming events and also to have the opportunity to see our photos re-posted or to go behind the scenes of our favorite museums.
1. The Louvre
With more than 2,000 publications and almost 4 million subscribers, the Louvre Museum is undoubtedly the most social-network active in France. The aesthetics and quality of the photos posted daily make it a pleasant profile to browse but also incredibly interesting. One day you discover a work of art with its in-depth description, the next day a re-posted photo of the iconic pyramid, the day after an anecdote that tells the #HistoryOfTheLouvre (an initiative that every Wednesday teaches us a little more about the palace and its architecture).
2. MoMA
MoMa doubles the stakes with more than 4,000 posts published to date. Here too, the posts alternate between descriptions of artworks on display, announcements of can’t-miss events or performances, but also photos of visitors taken on the spot. The link in the bio is particularly appreciated as it provides access to interesting articles about artists, projects, online courses or simply tips on how to make the most of your visit to the museum.
3. The V&A
London’s Victoria & Albert Museum is the world’s largest, specializing in applied and decorative arts and design. Its collection spans antiquity to today, showcasing more than two million works and objects from Europe, North America, Asia, and North Africa. The thoughtful Instagram account shares images from the museum’s display as well as fun facts trivia with an #onthisday and #secretsofthemuseum hashtags.
4. Rijksmuseum
Through its Instagram profile, the Rijksmuseum, which is full of treasures, makes us privvy to the progress of the restorations, goes behind the scenes of the exhibitions, and keeps us up to date on the comings and goings of the works of art thanks to photos, video reports, articles and even live broadcasts.
5. Musei Italiani
The Musei Italiani account presents photos and stories of all the Italian State’s museums, institutions and tourist sites. You can admire photos of the Colosseum, the Academmia in Florence or the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, but also of lesser-known places such as the Boncompagni Ludovisi Museum of Decorative Arts in Rome. The descriptions are only written in Italian, but you can still admire the images.
6. The Art Institute of Chicago
One of America’s oldest and largest art museums, the Art Institute of Chicago is home to some exquisite art masterpieces that include Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Picasso’s The Old Guitarist
7. Anthology Film Archives
“Preserving and presenting films made by visionaries, radicals, independents, and authors – with a focus on films that are neglected, forgotten or ignored”, states the bio of the Anthology Film Archives’ Instagram profile. Opened in 1970 with the conviction that a society’s culture resides largely in marginal works of art created outside the commercial stream, Anthology is an excellent source of inspiration if you are looking for independent, experimental or avant-garde film ideas. The alternative program of this New York film library is regularly published on the Instagram profile.
8. Centre Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou is particularly active and interactive on Instagram. Most of the posts are real pills of artistic culture and keep the community active through contests, horoscopes, online courses, quizzes, and the use of the #LeCentrePompidouVuParVous hashtag. Moreover, the first of the highlights, “You”, presents numerous photos and videos that have been shared by visitors and re-posted. The “Behind the scenes” and podcast highlights are also quite popular.
9. The Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles has plenty of secrets! Would you like to know all about the Château de Versailles (how many rooms it has and how many works are in its collections),the restoration of the Royal Chapel, the work of the restorers in the sculpture workshop, the trees that grow outside, r discover the superb views from the estate’s staircases? Visit Versailles’ Instagram profile.
10. Tate
A single account that includes the Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives, so there’s plenty of eye candy! Keep up on announcements for upcoming exhibitions or events, see portraits and read descriptions of the many works of art found in the various galleries, complete with video reports and interviews.