ThisIsLondon.co.uk has an article today on the National Gallery of London taking their art out onto the streets in an effort to remind the passersby what the NG has to offer. There's 44 full scale reproductions, they'll stay up for 12 weeks, and even has a call in tour recording.
The most interesting part of this is story is the reference to Banksy. In the title of the article: "Now that's street art, Banksy", and an art critic's quip ""Anything Banksy can do, the National Gallery can do better." The Banksy reference is interesting in that it seems to indicate that it's a competitive response to his hanging his work in several museums (not to mention the tons of press he received as a result).. Banksy's museum pranks seem to be causing some serious conversations behind closed doors...is street art really becoming a competitor in providing people's art and culture needs to the point that it is hurting attendance, charitable contributions and relevance?