WMA Re-Opening Information

Dear WMA Friends,

I hope this update finds you safe and healthy. It’s hard to believe that WMA has been closed to the public for two months to aid in stopping the spread of COVID-19. Although we seem to be in a state of flux hour to hour, day by day, the team at WMA remains hard at work developing new ideas to connect with you.

I know that during these past months of staying at home, many of you have been participating in our virtual programs for all ages. I share many thanks to our staff for their quick response to adapting to our interim circumstances, and developing and implementing these virtual opportunities to engage with the art, artists, and ideas of our time.

We know that the museum holds an important place in your lives, that we are a community anchor, and that you are awaiting the time you can return. Since our initial closure due to COVID-19, WMA has been hard at work crafting a safe strategy that puts people first, and that aligns with directions and recommendations from public health officials.

The decision of when we can safely begin implementing our reopening plan is complex and must take into consideration local conditions, the ability to secure adequate cleaning and disinfecting supplies, and other factors. In the meantime, we continue to refine our plans so that when we do reopen, you can be confident that we are doing so in a way that keeps you, our staff, and volunteers, as safe as possible. WMA will continue to follow the guidance of the CDC and local officials and recommend that face coverings be worn alongside social distancing guidelines when the museum reopens.

Our goal is to create a visitor experience that is centered on the highest quality works of art and an experience that is safe and accessible for everyone. Museums are places of contemplation, healing, and comfort in difficult times. At WMA, we believe in the transformative power of art, and that access to the arts is vital to the wellbeing of our community. We are eager to welcome visitors back, and at the same time, we aim to do all we can to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

At this time, we have not yet set a date for reopening to the public, but will plan to announce any new information and visitor procedures on WMA’s website and social channels as they become available. However, all programs, events, classes and workshops will be cancelled until further notice. To stay up to date with what we are offering, visit our website often at https://www.wiregrassmuseum.org/updates/.

We are aware that the museum experience will be different, but that doesn’t mean that it will be diminished. This has been an opportunity for staff to re-envision the visitor experience, prioritizing your enjoyment, comfort, and safety. WMA’s garden and galleries will open under suggested guidelines for social distancing and crowd size limitations. The museum’s education gallery and studio will remain closed until further notice.

All dates, plans, and policies are subject to change based on new information and guidance from public health officials.

We look forward to welcoming back our visitors once we are ready and able to do so safely. As we continue to refine our plans, please take a few moments to complete this survey so that we may prioritize the things that matter most to you.

We will continue to share our plans for reopening on our website at www.wiregrassmuseum.org and on our social channels. Please check back often and stay in touch!

All the best,

Dana-Marie Lemmer
Executive Director and Curator