Reopening Resources

On this page you'll find a variety of resources, recommendations, and guidelines for your adaptation and use as you and your institution work to safely and successfully reopen in our new world impacted by COVID-19.

Recognizing that each museum has their own unique situations, please adapt these guides and workflow recommendations to fit your needs. The below resources should be considered as an aid to your internal discussions on how to safely approach your work both during the planning process and once your doors are opened again.

General Reopening Guidance + Workflow Recomendations

COVID-19 Sample Reopening Plans + Guidelines

Members + Subscribers + Visitors • Staff Safety + Team Bonding

Signage Resources + Examples • Social Media + Digital Engagement Resources

Collections + Exhibition Care Resources • How to Collect + Document COVID-19 Stories

GENERAL REOPENING GUIDANCE + WORKFLOW RECOMMENDATIONS

Global Museums Reopening Tracker
Workflow Recommendations for Reopening Museums – WMA
Reopening Guidelines for Indoor Museums, Galleries, Zoos, and Aquariums – CA Department of Public Health
General Checklist for Outdoor Museums and Galleries – CA Department of Public Health
Resources for Museums Preparing to Reopen – AAM
Tips & Strategies for Reopening Museums After COVID-19 Closures – Cuseum
Ensuring The Safety of The Public and Staff – ICOM
Museums and Social Distancing: A Planning Toolkit – CCD and Smartify
Managing Density: The Reemergence of Museums in the New Normal – Ancona + Associates
Considerations for Mask Policies – AAM
Reopening: Guidance for General Office Settings – American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – CDC
Precautions for Museums during Covid-19 Pandemic – International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM)

COVID-19 SAMPLE REOPENING PLANS + GUIDELINES

Download, edit, adapt, and learn from this array of available sample reopening plans:

Various California Sample Reopening Plans – CAM
COVID-19 Emergency Operational Plans for Phased Reopening – Arizona Historical Society
Guest Experience Reopening Plan - Protecting Ourselves and Our Visitors – Arizona Historical Society
COVID-19 Protocols and Staged Re-opening Plan Details – Idaho State Historical Society
Staged Re-opening of Facilities and Services – Idaho State Historical Society
Rental Program and Museum Events Plan for Reopening – Arizona Historical Society
Guidance for Reopening Museums – Alberta Museums Association
Re-opening Protocols – Thanksgiving Point
Re-opening Plans – Artnet News
Editable Reopening Plan & Editable Reopening Checklist – Boise Art Museum
Japanese Friendship Garden Society of San Diego – AAM
Museum “Open to the Public” Guideline Considerations – Oaklahoma Museums Association
How Boston Art Museums Are Planning Their COVID-19-Safe Reopenings – wbur.org
New Visiting Guidelines – Children’s Museum of Idaho
Glazer Children’s Museum Reopening Plan Phase 2 – GCM
Discovery Park of America – AAM
Reopening Plans – Magazzino Italian Art, Cold Spring, NY

MEMBERS + SUBSCRIBERS + VISITORS

Still Worth It? Admission Cost During the Pandemic for Cultural Entities (DATA) – Colleen Dilenschneider
DATA UPDATE: How COVID-19 is Impacting Intentions to Visit Cultural Entities – July 27, 2020 – Colleen Dilenschneider
Museums and COVID-19: 8 steps to support community resilience – ICOM
Mask Up: Here Are The Safety Measures Visitors Want (DATA) – Colleen Dilenschneider
Meeting Visitor Needs: What Will Make People Feel Safe by Age & Income (DATA) – Colleen Dilenschneider
Why Members and Subscribers Are Critical for Your Reopening Strategy (DATA) – Colleen Dilenschneider
Education, Age, Income: How Members and Subscribers Differ From General Attendees (DATA) – Colleen Dilenschneider

STAFF SAFETY + TEAM BONDING

Keeping Our Employees And Partners Safe During #Coronavirus – Jennifer Christie, People Team Lead @Twitter
How leaders can bring employees together during COVID-19 – Microsoft
Virtual Team Bonding During COVID-19 – JustWorks
Smiles Behind the Mask - Tips for Staying Healthy and Happy at Work (PPT Presentation) – Arizona Historical Society
Return to Work Checklist (Posting & Policies; Health & Safety; Best Practices) – HUB International

SIGNAGE RESOURCES + EXAMPLES

Freely download and use the following signage for you institution upon reopening:

Social Distancing Graphics for Museums (FREE) – entro (a branding and experiential design firm)
Signage & Posters – Alberta Health Services

SOCIAL MEDIA + DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES

How can we utilize social media to successfully reach and engage our audiences? How can we create lasting online communities? Here, you'll find an assortment of guides, toolkits, and ideas of inspiration to help your museum grow, engage, and sustain its online audiences in this new era of the digital museum.