By Elizabeth Payne
Grand Rapids Art Museum
The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) has announced its reopening date with expanded safety measures. The Museum will welcome GRAM members for a soft opening beginning Saturday, July 25, followed by the public Saturday, Aug. 1.
“I’m thrilled to announce the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s reopening and welcome everyone back to our galleries,” commented GRAM Director and CEO Dana Friis-Hansen. “The well-being of our staff, volunteers, and guests remains our top priority, and we’re excited to reopen our doors with enhanced precautions and limited hours so our visitors can safely enjoy the transformational power of art.”
Reopening Schedule:
Member Appreciation Soft Opening: July 25, 28, and 30
Public Opening: Aug. 1
Current Hours of Operation:
Tuesdays: 12 – 6 p.m. (Meijer Free Day)
Thursdays: 12 – 9 p.m. (Meijer Free Day, 5 – 9 p.m.)
Saturdays: GRAM Members 10 a.m. – noon; Public 12 – 6 p.m.
Guests are encouraged to reserve advance timed tickets online and will receive a 10% discount for any online ticket purchases. A few of the new protocols for visitor experience following local and state guidelines include, but are not limited to:
Required face coverings for all staff, visitors and volunteers
Required temperature checks upon arrival of all staff, visitors and volunteers
Regular deep cleaning of the Museum and increased hand sanitization stations
Touch-free interactions at the Visitor Services desk
Controlling the number of visitors to provide proper distancing
Limited days and hours of operation
Visitors can enjoy access to the exhibitions A New State of Matter: Contemporary Glass and Useful Beauty: Design Highlights from the Permanent Collection, which have both been extended to give more visitors the chance to see the exhibitions. The exhibitions are on view through Oct. 4 and Nov. 1, respectively. A rotating presentation of works from GRAM’s Collection are also on view on all three levels. The Museum will not resume normal programming upon reopening in accordance with social distancing, but may offer select programs that can be done at a safe, contactless distance. Updated details will be available on GRAM’s website.
GRAM is committed to keeping the Museum accessible to visitors, especially as many are experiencing financial hardship during COVID-19. Thanks to the generous support of Meijer, guests are invited to enjoy free admission to the Museum on Meijer Free Tuesdays from noon – 6 p.m. and Thursday nights from 5 – 9 p.m. For those in our community who need to stay home, GRAM will continue to share free digital resources including artist interviews and talks, virtual tours, artmaking activities and more at artmuseumgr.org/MuseumFromHome.
