Art museums join forces as cultural activity resumes in the Berkshires
(July 2, 2020)—The three largest museums in the Berkshires plan to reopen to visitors over the July 11–12 weekend, following Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s announcement permitting museums and other cultural organizations to resume operations.
The reopening schedule is as follows:
In a joint statement, the directors of the three museums—Laurie Norton Moffatt (Norman Rockwell Museum), Olivier Meslay (Clark Art Institute), and Joseph Thompson (MASS MoCA)—said: “We are delighted to be able to reopen our doors and to welcome back our friends, neighbors, and new visitors. We strongly believe in the restorative power of art and cannot wait to share our galleries and grounds with our guests. We are committed to providing the safest experiences possible and have been working hard to ensure that our visitors will be comfortable in returning under new norms. Our visitors will be our partners in the shared responsibility to follow best practices to protect one another.”
Advance ticket reservations will be required at each museum. Admission will be allocated on a timed basis to provide staggered entry, consistent with the Commonwealth’s reduced capacity guidelines.
The Clark’s grounds remain open at no charge on a 24-hour basis; the grounds of the Norman Rockwell Museum are available to the public during operating hours, with no charge. Visitors may explore the MASS MoCA campus, including businesses housed within the former factory complex. Check individual websites for further details.
Programming at all three institutions will take new shapes and form, following Massachusetts guidelines. Live performances and events will resume at each venue on a rolling schedule and in new socially distant formats, while virtual programs will continue online to provide other opportunities for deeper engagement. The first live performance at MASS MoCA for the general public is scheduled for July 18. Events at Norman Rockwell Museum and the Clark will be announced at a later date.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and recommendations from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s Reopening Task Force, the three museums have all adopted the following protocols:
Press contacts:
Victoria Saltzman
Clark Art Institute
413 884 3466
[email protected]
Jodi Joseph
MASS MoCA
413 884 4633
[email protected]
Alyssa Stüble
Norman Rockwell Museum
570 335 7916
[email protected]