GOMA selfie stick ban applauded by Brisbane locals
The Gallery of Modern Art's recent decision to ban selfie sticks has received positive feedback on the streets of Brisbane with most saying there is no need to have them inside the gallery.
GOMA said after noticing selfie sticks being brought into the gallery, it updated its conditions of public entry to list selfie sticks as an item that may pose a risk to safety.
"It has long been accepted that other photographic equipment could pose a threat to the safety of patrons and the artworks, and is therefore only able to be used by photographers and crews who seek permission," a spokesperson said in a statement.
"The gallery considers selfie sticks to fall under the same category as other photographic equipment or personal items that could possibly cause damage."
The news was music to the ears of 85-year-old Brisbane resident Glen Buchanan who said the decision to ban the sticks was "superb".
"It should have been done when [GOMA] opened, but they didn't have selfie sticks in those days," he said.
"I would have said [selfie sticks were] an annoyance rather than a hazard."
Kangaroo Point resident Cathy Hamilton said she did not understand why people would need to take selfie sticks into an art gallery.
"I was really surprised that people would bother taking a selfie stick into a gallery because I wouldn't have anticipated you would need that sort of thing to take a picture of a painting," she said.
"I wouldn't take my selfie stick into the gallery."
Brock Cooper from Brisbane said he would not take his selfie stick into GOMA but did not think they were a potential safety hazard.
"I have one but I don't think that's the place to bring it ... it's an embarrassing thing," he said.
Brisbane's Tex Lockens said he imagined some might be annoyed by the selfie ban but most would not be concerned.
"It could be a problem for some people but for the majority, yeah, I think it's not a big problem," he said.
"I could see how that's a hazard. [The pole] could hit someone else or it could even knock art over."
Selfie sticks are now banned at several venues across Australia including the Queensland Art Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria.
