Museums Sheffield have announced that two of the city’s most popular museums are set to welcome visitors again later this month. The Millennium Gallery and Weston Park Museum will reopen their doors to the public from Monday 17 August with a range of measures in place to keep everyone safe while visiting.
These new measures include the following:
· The introduction of free pre-booked visits to manage visitor flow and support NHS Trace & Trace, alongside some capacity for walk-up entry
· Adapting the air handling systems to improve ventilation
· Asking visitors to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing
· Hand sanitiser available throughout the museums
· Enhanced cleaning throughout the day
· One-way routes in some areas
· Clear social distancing guidance
· Removing dressing up costumes and some interactives for a little while
· Installing screens on shop counters and card-only payments
Kim Streets, Chief Executive of Museums Sheffield, told Exposed: “We can’t wait to welcome visitors back – it will be fantastic to see people come through the doors and bring the museums back to life again. Keeping everyone safe is our number one priority and we’ve spent the last few months making sure we have all the right measures in place so everyone can visit with confidence. Over the coming weeks we’ll be listening to visitor feedback and continuing to review and update our procedures in accordance with developing Public Health England guidance.”
Both museums will initially be operating revised opening hours, with each site open 11am-3pm every day. Walk-up visits will still be available, although numbers will be limited, so booking is strongly advised to guarantee entry. To help manage numbers in the building, the Millennium Gallery will also temporarily change how its entrances and exists operate, with visitors being asked to enter via Arundel Gate and exit through the Winter Garden.
There will be plenty to see when the museums reopen, including a brand-new gallery at Weston Park Museum. Sheffield Stories celebrates the very best thing about our fantastic city, its people; looking at life in the city during the 1950s, 60s and 70s the new gallery’s first displays been developed in partnership with residents in the South East of the city and bring together fashion, photographs, toys and mementos, and more. Visitors will also find all their favourites waiting for them, including the new Ancient Egypt gallery which made its debut earlier in the year
At the Millennium Gallery, visitors will initially be able to enjoy the Metalwork and Ruskin Collection displays, as well as the Nomadic Tales exhibition from Sheffield-based artist, Richard Bartle. Then from Saturday 12 September, the popular Lines of Beauty: Master Drawings from Chatsworth exhibition returns, showcasing work by greats including Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck from the Devonshire Collection and continuing until 1 November.
Each venue’s Ambulo café is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday 1 September, initially with a limited menu – they’ll be operating socially-distanced seating, with an extended outdoor space at the Millennium Gallery. The toilets at both sites will be open from the outset, in a limited capacity.
For up-to-date reopening info and to, visit museums-sheffield.org.uk/welcome-back
