Museum Marathon

On 15 April, Jack took part in a Museum Marathon in London, here’s his journey around 26 museums in one day.

Back in December, a friend of mine, Mar Dixon asked if anyone would like to do a ‘Museum Marathon’ this year. Eager to say that I’d ‘done a marathon’ without having to run, or actually trek 26.2 miles, I signed up without really knowing what I’d let myself in for.

The idea was pretty simple; walk around London visiting 26 museums, maybe more, in one day and raise more for a charity. We’d have a group photo taken outside each museum as a means of marking each one.

Mar chose to support Autism in Museums, which isn’t a charity but a very good cause. Autism in Museums is run by Claire Madge with the aim of raising awareness of accessibility for all in museums, particularly for those with autism.

Badges specially made to mark the Museum Marathon

So, come one sunny Sunday in April, a group of 28 of us met outside the Science Museum and ventured off around London.

It was really nice to see a mix of different people join the day. We were joined by people who work in museums across different departments (curators, communications, front of house), people who work with museums (like we do at Cog), and people who simply love museums.

One big group of happy marathon ‘runners’

Along the way we debated the definition of ‘museum’. For the purposes of the Museum Marathon, we agreed that if an organisation had a collection of objects or artworks, employed a ‘curator’ and had a building that was open to the public then it was a museum.

One of our group, who was originally from America, shared with us that public art galleries in America are often called museums; for instance the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Guggenheim Museum.

As we walked, we also stopped off at some ‘bonus’ places along the way. There was a split opinion between the group of whether these should be counted as part of the 26 museums, which we already had a list and a map of, or whether they should be bonus stops. I fell into the latter group.

We were also extremely lucky to receive some goodies and refreshments from the V&A, National Gallery and The Postal Museum along the way.

Treats from the front of house team at the V&A

Through sun and rain, and after 12 miles, some 26,500 steps on my pedometer, we had visited 34 places and raised over £1,000 for Autism in Museums.

Safe to say that we were all feeling pretty tired by this point, so we stumbled towards the nearest pub and celebrated with a drink.

You can view all the photos on Neil’s Flickr album and find out from Claire at Autism in Museums how the money raised will be used.

Here’s how the marathon went:

And we’re off!
First three museums checked off @sciencemuseum @NHM_London @V_and_A. #MuseumMarathon pic.twitter.com/JFOWzgZzqF

— Jacques Bazeley-Harris (@jacquesharris) April 15, 2018

Stops 4-7: @RCT #guardsmuseum @I_W_M #churchillwarrooms @HCavMuseum. #MuseumMarathon pic.twitter.com/anqFFpe2kP

— Jacques Bazeley-Harris (@jacquesharris) April 15, 2018

Whitehall to Trafalgar Square for stops 8-11: @HRP_palaces @BFHouse @NationalGallery @NPGLondon. #MuseumMarathon pic.twitter.com/A4CzdIsz1K

— Jacques Bazeley-Harris (@jacquesharris) April 15, 2018

We’re *officially* at stop number 10 and there’s starting to be some debate about including our bonus stops of #WellingtonArch #BritishOpticalAssociationMuseum. #MuseumMarathon pic.twitter.com/jQsrcSAGKq

— Jacques Bazeley-Harris (@jacquesharris) April 15, 2018

We stopped for a third bonus stop at @cameramuseumuk with some good life advice. #MuseumMarathon pic.twitter.com/yZEdFBN0Cp

— Jacques Bazeley-Harris (@jacquesharris) April 15, 2018

We’ve ventured up to Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia to visit @Cartoonmuseumuk @britishmuseum @Pollockstoyshop @PetrieMuseEgypt for stops 12-15. #MuseumMarathon pic.twitter.com/ZlZXpdIGBP

— Jacques Bazeley-Harris (@jacquesharris) April 15, 2018

A little northbound loop from Fitzrovia-King’s Cross-Bloomsbury for stops 16-19 @UCLArtMuseum @GrantMuseum @ExploreWellcome @FoundlingMuseum. #MuseumMarathon pic.twitter.com/URoG9qWIq6

— Jacques Bazeley-Harris (@jacquesharris) April 15, 2018

Bonus round 4 @britishlibrary for an extra 7 points and 650 steps. #MuseumMarathon pic.twitter.com/OSPTFmYNVu

— Jacques Bazeley-Harris (@jacquesharris) April 15, 2018

A long stretch between Fitzrovia and City of London for stops 20-23 @DickensMuseum @thepostalmuseum @BHAandM @MuseumofLondon. #MuseumMarathon pic.twitter.com/IiDB212oCJ

— Jacques Bazeley-Harris (@jacquesharris) April 15, 2018

Bonus round 5 @StJohnsGate. #MuseumMarathon pic.twitter.com/O4yQRg5DIa

— Jacques Bazeley-Harris (@jacquesharris) April 15, 2018

From City of London to Southwark, stops 24-26 @GuildhallLondon @boemuseum @theclinkprison. #MuseumMarathon pic.twitter.com/OwPpdKMW8T

— Jacques Bazeley-Harris (@jacquesharris) April 15, 2018

Bonus stops 6 and 7 at @GoldenHinde1 and @The_Globe. #MuseumMarathon pic.twitter.com/DW1yMxS7Nu

— Jacques Bazeley-Harris (@jacquesharris) April 15, 2018

Last #museummarathon @Tate – we did it! About 30-31 museums, over £800 raised for @AutisminMuseums, 12 miles & my feet hate me. https://t.co/l0T1l5v5Mj pic.twitter.com/oE0E3GIM50

— Mar Dixon ???? (@MarDixon) April 15, 2018