Many museums across the US are welcoming back visitors, after months of being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All 50 states in America are now at some stage of post-pandemic reopening, meaning many public spaces and attractions are looking to reopen shortly.
The economy in the US has taken a major hit during lockdown, and the museum sector is amongst those suffering the biggest setback. “All museum revenue related to admission, gift shop and café sales evaporated, along with event rentals,” said Laura Lott, president and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums, which pegs the loss at $33 million a day. “As many as one-third of the nation’s national cultural treasures may never reopen.”
Museums that are ready to open are doing so with extreme caution, and close attention to social distancing, health and safety.
Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Tennessee has reopened, with guests having to take a mandatory temperature check at the gates. Anyone with a temperature over 38 degrees will not be allowed to enter. In addition to the temperature check, the attraction is limiting entry to just 25 per cent of normal capacity. Guests are also encouraged to wear masks.
The Mob Museum in Las Vegas is reopening shortly, with a reduced entry capacity, a mask requirement for all guests and pre-entry temperature checks. The museum features its own speakeasy, and while supplies last, guests will be able to take home a complimentary bottle of ethanol hand sanitiser.
If it were to stay closed, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would be facing a $12 million loss in revenue, and so it is understandable that the museum is eager to reopen to the public. “We have been blowing the doors off with virtual offerings on our website and reaching people where they are at this time,” museum CEO Greg Harris told NBC News. “We think that will increase the number of people that now desire to visit the museum in person.” When the doors do reopen there will be timed entry, limited capacity and nurses taking peoples temperature. Certain time slots will be reserved for those most at risk.
Ripley’s Believe it or not in Missouri, home of the world’s largest roll of toilet paper, opened during the memorial day weekend, to a reduced capacity with new social distancing and sanitising systems. The attraction has since closed once more to evaluate how the new protocols are working.
In the UK, we have recently seen social distancing rules relaxed, and they are set to be relaxed further from Monday. Is now the time to start thinking about reopening our museums? And if so, will we see similar measures to those in US attractions in place?
