Museum will open 5 days a week starting August 28
(New York, August 17, 2020) — The American Folk Art Museum announced today that it will reopen to visitors on Friday, August 28, with Member preview days on August 26 and August 27.
“Since the day we closed in March, we have been eagerly working toward today’s announcement and our reopening. The safety of our staff and visitors remains our first priority and we are prepared to offer a great experience for all ages,” said Jason T. Busch, Director of the Museum. “Our community is invited to find respite and inspiration in artworks on view that speak to themes of resilience, opportunity, resistance, and change.”
The Museum’s Lincoln Square location will be open five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday from 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM. All visitors will be required to have a ticket prior to entering the Museum’s galleries and are asked to reserve in advance. Admission is always free.
When the Museum reopens, American Perspectives: Stories from the American Folk Art Museum Collection and Six Decades Collecting Self-Taught Art will be on view. American Perspectives, which has been extended through January 3, 2021, features powerful visual narratives that offer firsthand testimony to chapters in the unfolding story of America from its inception to the present. Six Decades Collecting Self-Taught Art presents diverse and powerful works from artists including Horace Pippin, Judith Scott, Henry Darger, Minnie Evans, and Edward Hicks. Please visit the website for more information and updates to the Museum’s exhibition schedule.
The Museum will continue to offer opportunities to engage online with new programs, concerts, and art-making activities throughout the fall. All virtual programs are free with optional suggested donations to support ongoing programming. A continually updated schedule is available on the Museum’s website. Through December 31, the Museum will offer complimentary Patron-level memberships to New York City’s first responders and their families.
Visitor Guidelines
Following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control, New York State, and New York City, the Museum has developed a comprehensive safety protocol. Measures include limiting the number of visitors to 25 percent of the Museum’s maximum capacity and daily cleaning procedures. All visitors and staff will be required to wear face coverings at all times. Anyone entering the building will be asked to practice physical distancing by maintaining at least six feet from others. Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the Museum. A full list of guidelines is available on the Museum’s website.
Director of Operations Gordon Jackson commented: “We have reconfigured our physical spaces, built-up supplies of personal protective equipment, enhanced our daily cleaning procedures, and re-trained our staff — all of whom look forward to welcoming visitors soon.”
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About the American Folk Art Museum
Since 1961, the American Folk Art Museum has been the leading institution shaping the understanding of art by the self-taught through its exhibitions, publications, and educational programs. As a center of scholarship, it showcases the creativity of individuals whose singular talents have been refined through personal experience rather than formal artistic training. Its collection includes more than eight thousand works of art from four centuries and nearly every continent—from compelling portraits and dazzling quilts to powerful works by living artists in a variety of mediums. The Museum will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2021.
Contact:
Chris Gorman, 917.882.1774