For the past 111 days, the National Gallery has found their doors shuttered, unsure, until recently, when they would reopen them. They are by no means alone. It is estimated that at the height of the pandemic, between 95 and 97 per cent of the world’s museums closed, unsure when and even if they would reopen.
For the larger museums, reopening is something of a logistical nightmare. For the smaller ones, it is quite the same.
Andrew Nairne, director of Kettle’s Yard, notes: “There was a moment, when I was thinking, of course, we are like Nottingham Contemporary and the Hepworth Wakefield, places like that.” However, he soon “remembered that the others don’t have a little cottage with tiny rooms and narrow corridors.”
Kettle’s Yard, once home to Jim Ede, formerly allowed its visitors the freedom to occupy the space as if it were their own. From sitting in Ede’s armchair, to perusing his books, the museum was designed to allow its visitors to feel quite at home. Social distancing has scuppered this.
While Nairne opted not to reopen the museum immediately, instead plumping for an August opening, measures have been introduced in order to ensure the safety of any and all guests. From a cull in visitor numbers – only 18 may visit, compared with the pre-covid 72, to a liberal supply of hand sanitiser the museum will look rather dissimilar to its pre-pandemic state.
With staff directing visitors to ensure minimal clashes, one wonders whether this resembles the new museum experience for us all.
