Three major Berkshire County museums say they plan to reopen next weekend after shutting down for nearly four months.
Phase 3 of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker's reopening plan allows for the reopening with new COVID-19 guidelines, such as advance ticket tales. Visitors will show up at a particular time at the Norman Rockwell Museum, The Clark Art Institute and MASS MoCA.
People are hungry to connect and to connect to art, MASS MoCA director Joseph Thompson said. But he doesn't know for sure if they'll come.
"People are still quite cautious," he said. "That cautiousness could cut against people flocking to museums."
When MASS MoCA opens next weekend, almost 80% of staff will have been rehired, Thompson said. And that's how they'll run the museum — for now.
"Governor Baker was quite clear," Thompson said. "He's laid out guidelines for gathering and performing arts events, which could change — in either direction."
If virus numbers go up, businesses may be told to close again.
For now, museums will have to frequently clean public areas, and they're asking visitors for contact information to allow for contact tracing if necessary.
The Springfield Museums announced it plans to reopen Monday, July 13.
