The coronavirus pandemic is far from over but an icon of Kansas City is moving forward with reopening.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is opening its doors to the public on September 12, after being closed down since March 14, the organization announced in a press release on Tuesday.
“We have been anxiously awaiting the day when we can safely open our doors to visitors,” says museum director Julián Zugazagoitia in the Tuesday press release.
The museum is taking precautions however to make sure the art can be observed safely for all. This will include:
- Timed entry tickets (entrance to the museum will still be free)
- Mask requirements “that cover both the nose and mouth”
- Markings to encourage social distancing
- Required temperature checks for the staff before they begin their work
- New ordering systems and limited capacities at restaurants and gift shops throughout the museum
“Top priorities have been securing and caring for works of art and buildings, as well as maintaining the museum’s talented team,” the press release says.
The museum will also have slightly adjusted hours starting on the twelfth Friday through Monday the museum will be open 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday it will be open 10 am to 9 pm, and it will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Additionally, on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10 to 11 am will be set aside for members.
Some exhibits will not be available or have been canceled, but the much anticipated Gordon Parks x Muhammad Ali: The Image of a Champion, 1966/1970 exhibit has been extended through 2021. It features 55fifty-plus photographs Parks took of Ali while working for Life magazine.
“The new experience will feel a bit different to those accustomed to visiting the museum before the pandemic. But the encounters with art will continue to be powerful, engaging, and transcending,” Zugazagoitia says.
While entrance is free, Zugazagoitia encourages people to donate whatever they can to help the Nelson-Atkins through this hard time.
“This beloved institution will withstand the setback of this pandemic, and our generous donors are working hard to sustain it into the future,” Zugazagoitia says, “Each donation, whatever the amount, helps underscore the importance of art and expression during these difficult times.”
