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 situation, 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 + COVID-19 RESOURCES

• Best Practice in Virtual Programming, Tours, and Exhibits! – Alberta Museums Association

• Preparing to Reopen Resources – American Alliance of Museums (AAM)

• COVID-19 Advocacy Efforts & Resources – California Association of Museums (CAM)

• Museums Mobilize – Association of Children's Museums (ACM)

• Cuseum: Coronavirus Preparedness Community Google Doc – Cuseum

• Workflow Recommendations for Reopening Museums – Western Museums Association (WMA)

• Playbook: Reopening Museums & Cultural Attractions – Cuseum

• The Ultimate Guide to Surviving & Thriving As A Cultural Organization – Cuseum and Blackbaud

• COVID-19 Resources & Information for the Museum Field – American Alliance of Museums (AAM)

• COVID-19 Resources for Libraries and Museums – Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS)

• Museums and COVID-19 – Association of Art Museum Directors

• COVID-19 Resource Hub – Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative

• COVID-19 Resources for California’s Nonprofits – California Association of Nonprofits

• Children's Museums and COVID-19 – Association of Children's Museum (ACM)

• COVID-19 Resources for Science and Technology Centers and Museums – The Association of Science and Technology Centers

• COVID-19 Resources for History Organizations – AASLH

COVID-19 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

• Museums and Social Distancing: A Planning Toolkit – CCD and Smartify

• Editable Reopening Plan & Editable Reopening Checklist – Boise Art Museum

• Japanese Friendship Garden Society of San Diego – AAM

• New Visiting Guidelines – Children’s Museum of Idaho

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY RESOURCES

• Out-of-the-Box Programming: Museums Earn Income During COVID-19 – WMA

• How Nonprofits Can Utilize the New Federal Laws Dealing with COVID-19 – Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ)

• COVID-19 Tools and Resources for Nonprofits – Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF)

• Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Resources for Employers and Workers – California Labor & Workforce Development

• Equitable Institutional Sustainability in Times of Crisis - MASS Action

• Loans Available for Nonprofits in the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136) – National Council of Nonprofits

• SBA Paycheck Protection Program Issues for Museums and Libraries – Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS)

• Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Interim Final Rule Analysis – National Council of Nonprofits

• Out-of-the-Box Programming: Museums Earn Income During COVID-19 – WMA

• Earning Income from Education Programs during COVID-19 – AAM

• Trends Watch 2020: The Future of Financial Sustainability – AAM

• Reimagining Revenue Streams & Events – Cuseum

• Still Worth It? Admission Cost During the Pandemic for Cultural Entities (DATA) – Colleen Dilenschneider

THE NEW VISITOR EXPERIENCE + MEETING VISITOR NEEDS

• The Distance Learning Workbook: A Launch Guide for Museums – Emily Kotecki, Museum Learning Consultant

• What Do Parents Want Now? Children’s Virtual Programming During the Pandemic – Rockman et Al + Association of Children’s Museums

• List of What Museums Are Doing & What Resources Are Available – Airtable

• Museums Are Back, but Different: A Visitor’s Guide – New York Times

• Meeting Visitor Needs: What Will Make People Feel Safe by Age & Income (DATA) – Colleen Dilenschneider

• Love the Visit, Hate the Hassle: Five Access Challenges Hurting Attendance (DATA) – Colleen Dilenschneider

• Museums & the “New” Visitor Experience – WMA

• DATA UPDATE: How COVID-19 is Impacting Intentions to Visit Cultural Entities – July 27, 2020 – Colleen Dilenschneider

SOCIAL MEDIA + DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES

• How to Create a Social Media Policy That Protects Your Association – Associations Now

• Community Engagement During COVID-19 | Resources & Industry Examples – WMA

• Marketing Digital Experiences During Coronavirus – Culture Connect

• How Much More Time Do Likely Visitors Spend Online During the Pandemic? (DATA) – Colleen Dilenschneider

• Using Digital Platforms to Remain Connected to Audiences During Closures – AAM

• Your Guide to Rapid Content Development – Culture Connect

• Breaking the Mold: Experimenting with New Ideas to Increase Engagement – Medium

• Engaging Your Visitors While Closed – Dexibit – Dexibit

• Tips for Leveraging TikTok at Your Museum – Cuseum

• Museum Social Media Managers Facebook Group

What #'s are trending online?

 #MuseumFromHome • #MuseumMomentofZen • #MuseSocial • #MuseumSurvivalKit • #MuseTech

• #MuseumEd • #ITweetMuseums • #MuseumsAreNotNeutral • #MuseumsUnlocked

• #CovidArtMuseum • #CuratorBattle • #DrinkingAboutMuseums

Industry Twitter accounts to follow:

@futureofmuseums • @MusEdRoundtable • @MuseumWorkers • @AMTransparency • @MuseumsandRace

• ​@MuseumCN • @AAMers • @MuseumsAssoc • @US_IMLS • @awefund2020 • @cdilly

MEMBERS + SUBSCRIBERS

• Career Resources Keep Members Engaged in Tough Times – Associations Now

• Museums and COVID-19: 8 steps to support community resilience – ICOM

• What Makes Members and Subscribers Feel Safe (DATA) – Colleen Dilenschneider

• Reinforcing the Value of Membership During Coronavirus – Cuseum

• 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 + WORKING-AT-HOME GUIDANCE

• Reopening: Guidance for General Office Settings – American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)

• Ensuring The Safety of The Public and Staff – ICOM

• Return to Work Checklist (Posting & Policies; Health & Safety; Best Practices) – HUB International

• Museum Leaders: Sustaining Staff Engagement & Productivity During COVID-19 – WMA

• 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

• Crisis Communication Tips for Nonprofits Dealing with COVID-19 – Constant Contact

• Empathetic Audience Engagement During The Apocalypse – Peak Experience Lab

• How to Be An Empathetic Museum in this Troubled Time – The Empathetic Museum

• 10 Tips for a Better Crisis Communications Strategy – The Chronicle of Philanthropy

• Nonprofit Communications During the Coronavirus Pandemic – LinkedIn

• Strategies to Help Working Parents Amid COVID-19 – The Center for Association Leadership

VIRTUAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS

• Hosting Remote Internships: Successes, Challenges, and Thoughts for the Future – AAM

• How to Create a Successful Virtual Internship Program – ASAE

• Guide to Hosting a Virtual Internship – Handshake

• 6 Steps for Building a Virtual Internship Program – LinkedIn

• Some Companies Are Making Virtual Internships Work During COVID-19 – SHRM

COLLECTIONS + EXHIBITION CARE RESOURCES

• Courier and Technological Considerations During A Pandemic – Written by various museum registrars

• Guidelines for the Museum Courier during the Pandemic – The Registrar Hour

• COVID-19 Research Partnership to Inform Safe Handling of Collections, Reopening Practices for Libraries, Museums – IMLS

• Covid-19 Basics: Disinfecting Cultural Resources – NCPTT

• Harpers Ferry Center Guidance for Cleaning/Disinfecting Exhibitry to Combat Novel Coronavirus – National Parks Service

HOW TO COLLECT + DOCUMENT COVID-19 STORIES

• The Smithsonian Is Collecting Coronavirus 'Artifacts' To Document The Pandemic – NPR

• How Will We Remember the Pandemic? Museums Are Already Deciding – NY Times

• How Smithsonian Curators Are Rising to The Challenge of COVID-19  – Smithsonian Magazine

• How Museums Will Eventually Tell the Story of COVID-19 – Atlas Obscura

WMA's COVID-19 RESOURCES

Here you'll find our latest selection of COVID-19 related blog posts filled with helpful information and additional resources for your professional and personal use. For more articles, visit the WestMuse Blog.​

• Out-of-the-Box Programming: Museums Earn Income During COVID-19

• Cooking at Home: Museum Inspired Recipes

• Museums & the “New” Visitor Experience

• Museum Leaders: Sustaining Staff Engagement & Productivity During COVID-19

• Museum Leader Resources: Staff Morale, Stress, and Communication in the COVID Era

• Community Engagement During COVID-19 | Resources & Industry Examples

• WMA’s Social Media Best Practices: Help Your Brand During COVID-19

• Mission Statements as a Platform for Change

• Museum Shops: It's a Good Time to Round-Up

• How Your Institutional Core Values Can Guide Your Response to Covid-19 - Five Oaks Museum

• Time to Turn On & Tune In: 12 Podcasts to Help You Get Through 2020

• WMA’s Tips on How to Work from Home with Kids 2.0

• Bring On the Fun this Fall: WMA's Virtual Activity Guide

• Moving Forward with Your Career Goals This Fall

• Put the “Me” Back in Merry: Self-Care During This Holiday Season

Do you have reopening guidance and resources you'd like to add?

Please share with us at communications@westmuse.org.

These resources are subject to change and will be updated as new information becomes available.

We're all in this together. #StayHealthy #StaySafe #TogetherButSafelyApart