PHOTO COURTESY CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER

Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, Carnegie Science Center and The Andy Warhol Museum will officially reopen to all visitors on Monday, June 29, and to only members on Friday, June 26, for three days. 

The museums have been closed since March 14, but Steven Knapp — president and CEO of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh — says since Allegheny County entered the green phase of the reopening process, the museum has been eager to welcome the community back.

“We have been preparing for this day with a single-minded focus: the safety and well-being of our staff and our visitors,” Knapp says. “That will continue to drive everything we do.

“The four Carnegie Museums are ideal places to be inspired and uplifted by the wonders of art and science while also practicing social distancing,” Knapp adds, “and we are fully prepared to conform to recommended guidelines.”

The four museums are limiting the number of visitors by operating at 25 percent capacity and using timed ticketing. They will also implement clearly marked foot-traffic patterns in high-traffic areas, enhance cleaning protocols, place hand sanitizers near interactive exhibits and install plexiglass shields at visitor service desks and in office spaces. Visitors and staff are required to wear masks and practice social distancing. 

Over the past few months, Carnegie Museums have conducted digital meetings with more than 30 different museums and arts organizations throughout Allegheny, Westmoreland and Fayette counties to discuss ways in which they can safely reopen museums.

“Although each institution is evaluating re-opening under its own schedule, we are confident that these shared conversations will facilitate safe and smooth re-openings across the region, helping to ensure that all our visitors feel comfortable, safe, and prepared to return to the cultural organizations they love,” Knapp says.

Not only did Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh collaborate with other museums and organizations to discuss safe reopenings, but they have also addressed ways in which they can help end the cycle of violence and oppression that affects Black members of the community. 

“Our collaboration will continue, as we commit ourselves to listening to the needs of our community and discussing specific actions we can take to bring about the kind of changes we know we need to make,” Knapp says.