(ANSA) - ROME, NOVEMBER 04 - "I come from France where the lockdown has been in force for a week for the second wave of the pandemic. I expected it, but first of all the health situation counts".
Stèphane Verger, new director of the National Museum of Rome, comments on the closure of museums, one of the measures established to counter the spread of Covid-19.
"They are doctors and those who have been dealing with the pandemic for six months who have to give directions - he explains to ANSA -. I do not compete with me if it is right or not. It is such an uncertain period. The reasonable thing is to follow the decisions taken. Hopefully that they are good decisions that allow to restrict infections.
We must face together looking at the moment in which it will open with great joy for everyone. "Verger is obviously also disappointed by the postponement of the exhibition dedicated to Alberto Savinio which should have been inaugurated on 11 November, but looks at the opportunities that can be exploited during the lockdown. "In museums in general and in the National Roman Museum in particular there is so much to do to rethink the collections, the exhibition routes, the restoration of the works.
It will not be a lost period.
Behind the closed doors continue to work and then you can show the result of this activity.
Many of my colleagues think so ". In a delicate phase like the one that is emerging these days, he explains," a museum must be present on social media, as has happened in recent months.
We have inaugurated the new site that we will implement in the coming weeks virtual meetings, intervention by specialists, presentations of works.
Good things can come out of evil, a new way of presenting collections, experimenting with new paths ".
" In addition to working on the internal reorganization - he adds - the closing period will also be dedicated to the collections kept in warehouses and archives with the idea of opening this heritage.
People should know that behind the Museo Nazionale Romano there is another equally rich and spectacular museum that must be shown.
The time will come when we will finally be free to return to museums ". (ANSA).