Article: David Styles | Image: © National Museums Scotland/Twitter
One of the sector’s social media highlights of the year, Museum Selfie Day has for the very first time taken place when all UK museums and many more around the world are closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Returning for its eighth year, #MuseumSelfieDay has gained customarily high traction on Twitter despite limitations caused by the pandemic.
Rather than sharing pictures taken on the day, many participants have unearthed some classics from past years to spread optimism across the sector.
2021 highlights
A timeless classic capable of causing a global pun-demic.
it's that time of the year again for the annual unsolicited dik-dik pic#MuseumSelfieDay pic.twitter.com/U8ueGTckht
— Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈 (@JoshLukeDavis) January 20, 2021
Not only is this cluster of selfies an aesthetic delight, V&A Dundee’s digital content editor has Russelled up a mini quiz!
Aw for bittersweet #MuseumSelfieDay here's a wee ode to museums and travel, neither of which I've done in a year 💔
Can you guess the four museums/cities? pic.twitter.com/tJ1qR3a7aj
— Roo (@RussellDornan) January 20, 2021
When most of the nation are working in their pyjamas, Shaun is a shining beacon of apparel excellence.
The big day has arrived… of course it’s #MuseumSelfieDay! 🤳
Since there are sadly no visitors here to join in Yeoman Serjeant Shaun Huggins’s selfie, we’d love to see your #MuseumSelfie from previous trips to the Tower 🏰📸 pic.twitter.com/VLOlnOmKMd
— The Tower of London (@TowerOfLondon) January 20, 2021
We always love a peek behind the scenes at a new site. A big year awaits for Derby’s Museum of Making!
Thanks for the inspiration Joe! On site @MuseumofMaking #MuseumSelfieDay https://t.co/c56Kz6MQrW pic.twitter.com/PXWVxk01yB
— Hannah Fox (@hannahfox) January 20, 2021
Sun, smiles and simpler times. Loving your work, Jamie.
#MuseumSelfieDay! 🏛️🤳 Here's one from a sunny day filming at beautiful @WhitbyAbbey in 2019. ⛪️☀️
A simpler time… 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ALkYml1Lqz
— Jamie (@jmblgr) January 20, 2021
The best advice for Museum Selfie Day is not to overthink things, just wing it.
It’s #MuseumSelfieDay too! Here I am being all queer with some of the campest birbs in the @NHM_London bird collection at @NHM_Tring pic.twitter.com/2NPxg71iEl
— Dr Alex Bond (@TheLabAndField) January 20, 2021
Forget toilet rolls and pasta, Craig has been stockpiling top notch museum selfies.
My #MuseumSelfieDay contribution is a selection of Museum Selfie Days past… including internationally (which seems a very novel thought these days). Ping: @MigrationMuseum @SerpentineUK @Fashion_Museum @NatMotorMuseum pic.twitter.com/O5uGZoHJl6
— Craig Middleton (@_museumguy) January 20, 2021
The mask alone is enough to see Carys included. Excellent work.
My submission for #MuseumSelfieDay! My first trip to @NHM_Tring last year when going outside was sort of allowed for a little while #NaturalHistory @MuseumSelfieDay pic.twitter.com/TBYXCrMNmN
— Carys Williams (@CarysLouisa) January 20, 2021
Making object photography – while social distancing – look an absolute hoot. Bravo, Norfolk Museums team.
It's #MuseumSelfieDay! Although we can't go into our museum at the moment, we were lucky enough to do some object photography back in December along with three trainees from this year's @NorfolkMuseums cohort. They were very excited to finally set foot inside the museum! pic.twitter.com/66944BWupP
— Strangers' Hall (@StrangersHall) January 20, 2021
Throwback to an average day in the office for Chloe…
Definitely my favourite #museumselfie as it reminds me of the excitement of a #school visit. Emails @9:30am but the rebellion starting @10:30am! Cannot wait to get back delivering the @Royal_Armouries #OUTSTANDING #learning programme #warcriesattheready #museumselfieday pic.twitter.com/Amo0472kMe
— Chloe Coleman (@ChloeMColeman) January 20, 2021
Wake me up before you… Gogo Formation Fish.
Breaking my extended period of absence from Twitter… my contribution to #MuseumSelfieDay
Hangin’ out with the extended family 😉 in the EdCC Earth Science Museum pic.twitter.com/8FkzCZvibv
— Dr Kailah Thorn (@kailah_thorn) January 20, 2021
This right here is the true selfie spirit in action. Dr Gelsthorpe, we salute you!
One of my last #MuseumSelfie #MuseumSelfieDay pictures at the opening of #DippyInRochdale #dippyontour with @Aristolochia @McrMuseum @Touchstones pic.twitter.com/JHtdYrlIRh
— Dr David Gelsthorpe (@paleomanchester) January 20, 2021
Despite Liz flexing the rules slightly, could a selfie more aptly sum up lockdown emotions?
hoping this submission for #MuseumSelfieDay will cheer you up as much as it destroys any sense of my own dignity and gravitas
(pedants, yes, it's not actually taken in a Museum, but I've got my @SedgwickMuseum tshirt on and at least of those creatures resembles a dinosaur) pic.twitter.com/9QAq82qhGW
— Liz Hide (@TheMuseumOfLiz) January 20, 2021
Perhaps I spoke too soon…
This has to be the most lockdown selfie of the day from the Colchester Museums crew.
Greetings world from everyone at #Colchester Museums! We're celebrating #MuseumSelfieDay in classic #lockdown style. Bonus points if you can you spot the 🐰! pic.twitter.com/EpHpl2vcM1
— Colchester Museums (@ColMuseums) January 20, 2021
National Museums Scotland has truly spoilt us here. Achieving the seldom seen sub-shark selfie. Superb!
Happy #MuseumSelfieDay from our Collections Care team! 🤳
Although our museums are closed, we are still checking in on our galleries on a regular basis. Find out how we're caring for our collections in lockdown
👉 https://t.co/XUpMCRLBYR #MuseumSelfie pic.twitter.com/2Z3weLlKMq
— National Museums Scotland (@NtlMuseumsScot) January 20, 2021
The perfect photobomb?
Can you guess what we’ve been doing during lockdown? Our Collections and House Officer found a friend whilst deep cleaning the cellars! #MuseumSelfie #MuseumSelfieDay pic.twitter.com/epCjKTMJY1
— The Workhouse (@NTWorkhouse) January 20, 2021
The socially distanced team selfie is an art form in itself. These two are prime examples of the style.
#MuseumSelfieDay ❤@DavidTovey1975 @MissKatieB1 @AnnieLainie @turtleandturtle pic.twitter.com/wEAn4SLrPy
— Museum of Homelessness (@our_MoH) January 20, 2021
This #MuseumSelfieDay we throwing it back to our first day of reopening in the summer- #SociallyDistancedSelfie Can’t wait to welcome you all back to the Caves when it’s safe. pic.twitter.com/LRgKcqiVoq
— Margate Caves (@MargateCaves) January 20, 2021
Safety seamlessly meets storage in this spectacular selfie.
@AshmoleanMuseum coordinating mask and bag is so 2020 #MuseumSelfieDay pic.twitter.com/2t62SM2gHC
— Hennie Thomson 🌱 (@hen_ology) January 20, 2021
Joyous work, Tilly.
Museum Selfie Day 2021 has been a lovely trip down memory lane – here are some of my favourite humans and museum moments from the last couple of years. Lots from @scigallerymel and @footscrayarts 💙🧡#MuseumSelfieDay #MuseumSelfieDay2021 pic.twitter.com/Bgm7QRxLr1
— Tilly Boleyn (@Tillsify) January 20, 2021
Now, let’s talk Turkey.
But first, let me take a selfie! 📸
Today is #MuseumSelfieDay 🥳 Do you have any self-portraits that you took in Turkish museums? Tweet us your pictures and let’s reminisce together! 😍
(İstanbul Archaeology Museums, İstanbul)#Turkey #Art #Selfie #MuseumSelfie #MuseumFromHome pic.twitter.com/y7vvqDIZdv
— Turkish Museums (@TurkishMuseums) January 20, 2021
Hat’s all folks!
A throwback to our exhibition on the centenary of female Met officers in 2019 for #MuseumSelfieDay, starring the Simone Mirman hat introduced as part of the Norman Hartnell uniform in 1968 (oh, and our Curatorial Assistant @museumsmith). pic.twitter.com/15cTodKXpF
— Metropolitan Police Museum & Crime Museum (@MPSHeritage) January 20, 2021
