BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) announced that it will begin a phased reopening on September 16, with the intention of having all of its galleries and gathering spaces accessible to visitors by September 30.
The museum will be open Wednesdays through Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with timed-entry passes available to BMA members beginning Friday, August 28 and the general public on Friday, September 4.
The Sculpture Gardens are already open Tuesdays through Sundays, from 10 a.m. to dusk. The BMA also released its health and safety protocols, which include details regarding timed and limited entry to the museum, PPE requirements, changes to visitor flow, and planned signage to remind visitors about social distancing, capacity limits, and sanitary practices.
The BMA plans to welcome up to 25 percent of its capacity, or 350 visitors per day, on September 16 and increase to 525 visitors per day by September 30.
The BMA’s reopening remains contingent on state and city guidelines, and the museum is prepared to alter its timelines should further precautions be necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of staff and visitors.
BMA Health and Safety Protocols
- Reopening Schedule: The BMA will reopen its building in three phases, with a limited number of galleries and gathering spaces, including the East Lobby, Terrace Gallery, and African, Asian, and European art galleries, among others, opening on September 16. Additional portions of the museum will open on September 23, including the Antioch Court, Cone Collection, and contemporary art galleries. The building will become fully accessible on September 30. Should it become necessary to ensure the health and safety of staff and visitors, the BMA may alter the pace of reopening.
- Entry to the Museum: The BMA will install an exterior welcome area at the East Lobby entrance, which will serve as the only entrance to the museum and support social distancing measures and capacity management. Visitors will be strongly encouraged to reserve free, timed-entry passes, with 15 passes available in 15-minute intervals until 4:15 p.m. on the BMA’s website. Up to six additional passes per 15- minute interval will be available for walk-up guests. Groups will be limited to five individuals. The BMA Shop, lobby restrooms, and Gertrude’s Chesapeake Kitchen will be accessible without passes, in alignment with capacity limits for each space and interstitial areas. Visitors will be able to exit the museum through the Zamoiski East Entrance, Merrick Historic Entrance, and Wurtzburger School Entrance.
- PPE and Signage: All staff and visitors will be required to wear masks. Visitors who arrive to the welcome area without a mask will be provided with one by the BMA. Hand sanitizer stations will be installed at the welcome area and throughout the museum. Signage on the floors and walls will be used to help visitors maintain six feet of social distance and capacity limits in different galleries and spaces throughout the museum. Additional signage will indicate areas where one-way traffic may be required and provide reminders about important sanitary practices. Front-of-house staff will also be on hand to answer questions and help visitors move through the museum.
Additional information about the BMA’s health and safety protocols will be available on its website at artbma.org.
