In his latest announcement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that museums, galleries, and heritage attractions will be able to reopen for 4th July. Following the announcement, new guidance has been released by the UK Government to help get the nation’s much-loved heritage sector back up and running, safely.
The guidance for the heritage sector has been published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in collaboration with Historic England, with the guidance for museums being published by the National Museum Directors’ Council with the support of DCMS. The guidance makes clear the necessary steps that need to be taken to ensure the safety of all staff and visitors, within attractions.
Museums
Timed tickets may need to be pre-booked to reduce the number of people entering an exhibition or site at one time. One-way routes will be clearly communicated, with spaced queuing systems introduced to manage visitor flow. Regular cleaning regimes should be intensified throughout the day, and beyond opening hours.
Access to audio guides may need to be reviewed, with museums considering new formats for the content they display, for example, through apps that can be accessed on personal devices. Handsets may also go through a quarantine period, to ensure they are thoroughly clean from contamination.
Specialist training may need to be provided for roles impacted by the new guidance, for example, front of house staff will be managing new operating conditions and maintaining social distancing measures. Shops and cafes within museums will need to reopen in line with guidance for food businesses and retail spaces, whilst encouraging guests to pay for goods and services by contactless methods.
Heritage sites
One-way systems, clear floor markings and queue management systems will too be in place at heritage sites, maintaining social distancing measures and limiting the contact between both staff and visitors. Organisations will also encourage contactless payments throughout. Similarly to museums, heritage sites will also need to review their booking procedures to reduce the number of guests on-site at any one time.
All sites will be instructed to produce risk assessments and review their cleaning regimes, with deep cleaning required to take place in a way that does not damage the historic fabric of the buildings.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said “Our museums, galleries and heritage attractions are world-class, and this guidance will help get these sectors back up and running. It will not only pave the way for beloved institutions to welcome back visitors but also support important preservation to protect our historic buildings and ancient artefacts.”
National Museum Directors Council Chair Sir Ian Blatchford said “We welcome the guidance from DCMS to allow for the safe reopening of our galleries to the public and the collaborative spirit in which the museum guidelines were developed, drawing on expertise from colleagues across our sector. All museums are keen to resume their vital role at the heart of communities but, as our guidelines recognise, the timing of re-opening will depend on local context, conversations with partners and a careful assessment of each museum’s ability to open its doors in a safe and financially sustainable manner.”
The guidance issued by the UK Government is specifically set out for organisations in England. Organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should adhere to the advice of their own government officials, before making decisions on reopening and the correct procedures.
