Highlights of Museum Selfie Day 2020

15 January 2020

Article: David Styles | Image: National Museums Scotland conservation team kicked off Museum Selfie Day with a beauty © Charles Stable

Attracting participants from around the world, the seventh edition of Museum Selfie Day is once again taking over Twitter and Instagram timelines.

Today sees the return of the most appropriate day of the year to take a selfie in a museum, even if Antony Gormley disagrees. The artist is quoted as saying it’s “absolutely legitimate” to ban mobile devices in exhibitions after their excessive usage “totally wrecked” the experience of his show at the Royal Academy.

This quote comes from a Daily Mail article today (sorry). They haven’t shared the story in relation to #MuseumSelfie Day though. Amateurs!

Celebrating its seventh year, Museum Selfie Day is now a permanent fixture on the sector’s calendar. Its success is due in no small part to the work and ingenuity of its founder, Mar Dixon. In response to the campaign’s runaway success, she told Advisor: “I guess I’m most surprised that after all these years the hashtag is still going strong internationally across so many platforms.”

2020 Highlights

Dr Miranda Garrett has truly achieved the gold standard of selfies.

It's #MuseumSelfie Day Here's my #GoldVaultSelfie in the @boemuseum to celebrate! pic.twitter.com/8aqkqY1cHM

— Dr Miranda Garrett (@Miranda19c) January 15, 2020

This is truly a corker from James Akers. The Science + Industry Museum is way more fun than Erin’s face suggests, we promise!

Erin doesn't look impressed @sim_manchester #MuseumSelfie pic.twitter.com/JUpf9m8KCj

— James Akers (@JamesAkers) January 15, 2020

India has certainly ended the idea that Museum Selfie Day is armless fun.

Happy #MuseumSelfie Day! 🤳👑⚔️ pic.twitter.com/vTnCDj3Ysp

— India Divers (@indiadivers) January 15, 2020

Top selfie from Vicky, eclipsed only by the photo-bombing skills of Josh. What a duo.

It's #MuseumSelfie Day, so here's my face with bonus inside view and a @JoshLukeDavis cameo. pic.twitter.com/HNLofi579b

— Vicky Pearce⁷ (@vicky_pearce) January 15, 2020

GHT Southampton is the perfect place to take a museum selfie during a flying visit.

Making the most of #MuseumSelfie day with one of our most loyal customers! Come along and show us your best #southamptonselfie. The tower roof has the perfect lighting #MuseumSelfieDay #museumselfieday2020 #GHT pic.twitter.com/dtoSl2pPpd

— GHT Southampton (@ght_soton) January 15, 2020

Far too few statues retain their original cat ears. Alicia doing a great job of digital restoration at Norwich Castle today.

Development Assistant Alicia's submissions for #MuseumSelfie Day were all too good and we couldn't pick just one, so here's a selection of our favourites. All in a day's work at @NorfolkMuseums! pic.twitter.com/4sTZDIXLEm

— Norwich Castle (@NorwichCastle) January 15, 2020

This is the first Museum Selfie Day on which a picture with a big sparkly tampon has been possible. Excellent work from Jessica at the Vagina Museum!

Just me and a very sparkly tampon. I was super pumped to visit the @vagina_museum for the first time this weekend so it’s definitely got to be my addition to #MuseumSelfieDay #MuseumSelfie pic.twitter.com/pbrqswW6tx

— Jessica Rayner (@jessicarayner) January 15, 2020

Zoë, have you done something different with your hair?

First #MuseumSelfie of the day 📸 @MuseumSelfieDay pic.twitter.com/kXmzW7udq3

— Zoë Crew (@zoecreww) January 15, 2020

The Ashmolean team have taken this thing to a whole new level.

A very creative selfie from our Events team for #MuseumSelfieDay! Don't forget to share your best Ashmolean selfies with us for the occasion @MuseumSelfieDay pic.twitter.com/tTUxwynamb

— Ashmolean Museum (@AshmoleanMuseum) January 15, 2020

Oh deer! With the combination of backdrop, item and winning smiles this selfie has it all.

#MuseumSelfieDay
Our front of house team & the Giant Deer at the Manx Museum getting in on the action! 🤳#giantdeerselfie pic.twitter.com/CRHHVdmXdt

— ManxNationalHeritage (@manxheritage) January 15, 2020

Staff picks

Anna, Director

“Even if this isn’t strictly a selfie, this is what today is all about: I had never come across the National Cowboy Museum before, but there’s no chance I’ll forget it now!”

Happy #MuseumSelfieDay! Today is a day for people to get creative with museum art and artifacts such as Cowboy Mike, who's posing as LeRoy Neiman's "Kirk Douglas!" Stop by the Museum today and show us what you can create by tagging your #museumselfie using #mywest! pic.twitter.com/MTPkbTAo5N

— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) January 15, 2020

Sara, Media Manager

“I have a deep, heartfelt affection for puffer fish. Jade’s selfie made me lol. Why the puff not?”

#MuseumSelfieDay
Me and puff #@wethecurious_ pic.twitter.com/K7cePtaZH2

— Jade (@Space_Siren_) January 15, 2020

Kelly, Media Sales Executive

“I like that this highlights the fact you don’t have to be present in a museum to view their collections and to get involved, which is the way in which museums are also moving forward.”

So it's #MuseumSelfieDay and you have no time to go to a museum?😱
Good news! @Europeanaeu gives access to the content🖼️from over 3,5K #CulturalHeritage institutions across Europe🤓 So visit👉https://t.co/lnm235w1wn, find your favourite artwork & get creative!🤳#MuseumSelfie pic.twitter.com/CKbVa8bUH9

— Europeana (@Europeanaeu) January 15, 2020

Felicity, Sales Manager

“I like a good walrus and love Lego. What could be better?”