Museum “Bans” Cameras And Asks People To Sketch Artwork Instead

In a bid to encourage people to appreciate art — instead of just taking pictures of it for Facebook — Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum museum has implemented a “ban” on cameras and phones, instead urging visitors to sketch artwork at the museum.

“In today’s world of mobile phones and media a visit to a museum is often a passive and superficial experience,” the website reads.

“Visitors are easily distracted and do not truly experience beauty, magic and wonder. This is why the Rijksmuseum wants to help visitors discover and appreciate the beauty of art and history through drawing.”

Mind you, cameras and phones haven’t actually been banned. So if you use yours you won’t be thrown out.

“You don’t even have to be able to draw because this is not about the final result, but rather about looking at what you want to draw. When you do this, you begin to see things you never noticed before. You see proportions, details, lines… you get closer to the artist’s secret.”

And if you go to the museum on a Saturday, you’ll even get a sketch book and pencil.

Check out the video about this brilliant initiative:

Find out more on the museum website.