Filming, Photography Allowed in Museums

Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization has published a guidebook on Saturday related to filming and photography inside museums to fulfill the needs of researchers, students, media reporters and tourists.

Mohammad Reza Kargar, ICHHTO’s director for museum affairs, said non-professional filming and “no flash” photography of relics are allowed in all museums nationwide, as per the guidelines.

“The new regulations also allow visitors to use ordinary smartphones or cameras to take photos and record videos of architectural designs and decorations at museums and palaces in areas that do not have signs prohibiting photography or filming,” IRNA quoted Kargar as saying.

However, the professional shooting of relics kept in the storehouse and gaining access to archived images and videos will only be possible for researchers, students and reporters after receiving the permit from the museum director.

The management has a week to review the application and issue a shooting permit based on the regulations.

The no-photo policy is a global phenomenon set to avoid harming delicate objects with camera flashes and creating bottlenecks. It’s also believed to boost security measures for preventing theft. The guidelines were published following complaints by the research society for lack of access to museum objects and documents.

Mehdi Mousavi Kouhpar, the head of the Society of Iranian Archeologists, had earlier complained that researchers are facing problems. “Although conditions have improved for scholars in museums, we still face numerous problems, especially in provinces,” he said.  Kargar had pledged to publish the regulations by Dec. 6, but finally released them after a month’s delay.