Most Massachusetts museums are planning to reopen in the next week or two, after having been closed since mid-March to stem the spread of coronavirus. Governor Charlie Baker has moved the Commonwealth into “Phase 3: Vigilant” of his reopening plan, which allows “arts & entertainment” including casinos, gyms and museums to welcome back audiences. Below is an alphabetical list of when museums across the region plan to reopen to visitors. Of course, all may be subject to change. If you’ve got an update or your institution is missing, please let me know.
• Addison Gallery of American Art at Phillip’s Academy, Andover: Museum closed “until further notice.” Events cancelled through August 31.
• Boston Children’s Museum: “The State has given us the go ahead to re-open and we will very soon be announcing a reopening date for July.” Update: The museum reopened July 17.
• Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester: “Closed until further notice.”
• Clark Art Institute, Williamstown: Reopens to the public on Sunday, July 12. Advance timed ticket reservations required.
• Currier Museum of Art, Manchester, New Hampshire: “To reopen on Thursday, Aug. 20.” Timed tickets. New hours.
• Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst: “Temporarily closed.”
• DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln: Sculpture park open. DeCordova plans to reopen indoor galleries on Oct. 8.
• Fitchburg Art Museum: Reopens July 22 with free admission for all through Sept. 6.
• Fruitlands Museum, Harvard: Grounds “are open in a controlled manner to limit overcrowding. Reserved time/day passes are required in advance. Buildings will remain closed until further notice.”
• Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton: To reopen to members on Aug. 1 and the general public Aug. 6. “We will be open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) for the month of August, with admission by donation for all guests (pay what you want). We’ll return to our full schedule beginning Sept. 1.”
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston: Reopens to the public on Wednesday, July 15. Timed tickets required.
• Griffin Museum of Photography, Winchester: To reopen July 18. “Advance appointment” required.
• Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge: “We do not have a date for when the Harvard Art Museums can reopen. In accordance with our university colleagues, the Harvard Art Museums are currently formulating a comprehensive re-opening plan that prioritizes the safety of the community, our visitors, and the museums’ staff,” writes museums spokesperson Jennifer Aubin.
• Harvard Museums of Science and Culture, Cambridge: “At this point we do not have a date when the museum galleries will reopen to the public,” writes spokesperson Tim Letteney.
• Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston: Reopens to members July 14, then to the public with free admission for all from July 16 to 19. “’Yayoi Kusama: Love Is Calling’ will remain closed for further safety assessments.” Advance timed tickets required. All theater productions and performances postponed until 2021. Public programming and events “currently postponed.”
• MassArt Art Museum, Boston: Temporarily closed.
• Mass MoCA, North Adams: Reopens to members on Friday, July 10, and to the general public on July 11. Advance timed ticket reservations required.
• MIT Museum, Cambridge: “Closed until further notice.”
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: “We don’t have a date set, but have targeted early fall,” museum spokesperson Karen Frascona writes.
• Museum of Russian Icons, Clinton: Reopens to members on Friday, July 10, then to public on Friday, July 17. “The Museum will operate on a limited schedule with new protocols: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Entrance by reservation only; Timed visits; A limit of 20 guests per time slot.”
• Museum of Science, Boston: Reopens to the public, Sunday, July 26.
• New Bedford Art Museum: Reopening Aug. 15.
• New Bedford Whaling Museum: Reopens to members Thursday, July 9, then to the public on July 23. Timed tickets required. New hours.
• New England Aquarium, Boston: Reopens July 16. Timed-tickets required.
• Peabody Essex Museum, Salem: Reopens to members on Thursday, July 16, and to the public on Saturday, July 18. Timed tickets required.
• RISD Museum, Providence: “Closed until further notice.”
• Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge: Reopens to the public on Sunday, July 12. Advance timed ticket reservations required.
• Tufts University Art Galleries, Medford and Boston: “Closed for the summer.”
• Worcester Art Museum: Plans to “reopen to the public in early October 2020.”
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