UK Museums Set to Close Once More
November 2 2020
Picture: The National Gallery
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The UK has followed France and Germany in announcing a renewed national lock down beginning on the 5th November. Non-essential services including museums and galleries are being forced to close until at least the 2nd December 2020. The UK government's job retention scheme has also been extended, which will hopefully help these institutions with staffing costs. Yet, it seems inevitable now that more museums and galleries will be facing further difficult and uncertain months ahead.
The Art Newspaper has published news that 40 Museum Directors in Germany have signed a letter calling on the government there to reconsider the measures over November. Their letter contains the following argument:
Because of the safety standards already in place, museums are among the safest public places. If museums have to close again, this seems like a symbolic gesture. But it will have massive consequences—not just for museums, which will be weakened still further, but also for the public.
It is incomprehensible to us why DIY shops, car showrooms and other shops can remain open, while museums—which have the same or even more space to make adequate provision for visitors to circulate safely—should have to close.
As ever, an eagerly awaited vaccine might be the only sure route out of this dreadful situation.
