It is often said that museums and art galleries should pay attention to works in their local area instead of displaying cultures and artworks from different countries. Although there are several advantages of local artworks, I strongly disagree with this perspective because museums and art galleries can broaden peoples’ understanding of cultures and can give a chance for them to learn about new things about other countries more easily than local artworks cannot offer.
Museums and art galleries should exhibit art works from various countries because they may attract people’s attention to diverse cultures and traditions. Many people cannot afford to travel abroad. Therefore, visiting museums can give an opportunity to learn about foreign traditions, religions and lifestyles through paintings and other artworks. For example, Uzbek visitors want to know about Rome’s ancient history in the Middle Ages, they can learn about it without leaving Uzbekistan. As a result, museums and art galleries can raise cultural awareness and respect among people from different backgrounds.
Another reason for exhibiting foreign artworks in museums and art galleries is that they may provide a wider range of knowledge and attract more visitors. If museums display only local arts, people have limited opportunities for comparing various artistic styles. However, international artworks may make visiting museums and art galleries more interesting than local ones do. For instance, showing the artworks which were drawn by Leonardo da Vinci in art galleries allows people to compare modern and historical styles of art. Consequently, museums and art galleries may become more valuable educational institutions and attract both local and international tourists.
In conclusion, looking at in one-way, local artworks are undoubtedly important in one country’s history, but looking at in another way, museums and art galleries should also display artworks from various countries because they promote cultural understanding and provide broader educational value.