Visitors return to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., on June 18, 2021, after the museum was closed for more than 400 days due to the pandemic.
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Following the conclusion of the federal government shutdown, numerous federally funded sites, including the Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery of Art, are revealing their reopening strategies.
The recent government shutdown, noted as the longest in U.S. history, has yet to have its financial ramifications fully assessed. However, previous shutdowns have demonstrated significant financial repercussions for cultural venues forced to close. According to the American Alliance of Museums, the 2018-2019 closure led to a $5 billion loss. This figure comprises an estimated $3.4 million from Smithsonian’s retail and film operations and $1.2 million in revenue losses from the National Gallery of Art, which also missed out on approximately 334,000 visitors, including 11,700 students.
“We’re glad to see these museums are able to reopen, but we know from past shutdowns that cultural institutions lose millions in revenue they can never recover,” said Marilyn Jackson, president and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums in an email to NPR, “And it’s not just the museums but the restaurants, hotels, and small businesses that depend on cultural tourism who suffer alongside them.”
Here’s a summary of the reopening plans:
Smithsonian Institution
Encompassing 21 museums and the National Zoo, the Smithsonian plans to resume operations gradually. On Friday, Nov. 14, the National Museum of American History, the National Air and Space Museum, and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, will open their doors. By Monday, Nov. 17, all other museums and the National Zoo, including its popular animal cams, will be accessible to the public. More information is available here.
National Gallery of Art
Often ranked among the world’s most frequented art museums, the National Gallery of Art will welcome visitors to its West Building and the outdoor Sculpture Garden starting Friday, Nov. 14. The East Building will reopen the following day, Nov. 15. Notably, the East Building will debut a significant U.S. exhibition tour featuring First Nations art from Australia. Initially set for an Oct. 18 opening, The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art will now greet its first viewers on Saturday. Post Washington, D.C., the exhibition is set to travel to museums in Colorado, Oregon, and Massachusetts.
Ford’s Theatre
The historic Ford’s Theatre, functioning in partnership with the National Park Service, experienced partial closure during the shutdown but is now fully operational. “We’ve seen a swell of groups as of this morning at Ford’s Theatre,” spokesperson Leah Yoon Frelinghuysen shared with NPR in an email, “Clearly, visitors are excited to experience what our site has to offer and we are thrilled to be open!”
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
