Update: Tuesday, June 9
The Lyman Allyn Art Museum is gearing up to reopen and welcome visitors back on Tuesday, June 30 at 10:00 am. To celebrate the return of visitors and to share its love of the arts with the community, the Lyman Allyn will be open for free to all guests all summer long, through Labor Day. We have been working diligently and following state guidelines in making changes throughout the Museum to ensure that visitors feel safe when they visit.
Before You Arrive
An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. In the interest of your personal safety and community health, the Museum will require compliance with the guidelines listed below.
- Face masks must be worn by all visitors six years of age and above, and by all staff members.
- Masks for those without them will be available at the front desk.
- Temperatures will be taken upon arrival using an infra-red, touchless thermometer for all visitors and staff.
- Visitors/staff must agree to go home if their temperature reads as 100.4 F or greater.
- Signage regarding entry-point rules, orientation, and cleaning protocols will be clearly posted.
- Visitor capacity has been dramatically reduced and will be controlled throughout the Museum.
- Gallery capacities and traffic patterns have been reassessed and signage will be clearly posted to help visitors navigate the new normal policies.
- Please click here for gallery capacity reference.
- Additional video cameras have been installed to better help monitor galleries.
- Social distancing is required and will be enforced throughout the Museum and grounds.
- Parties may remain together, children must stay with adults at all times, a minimum six-foot distance must be maintained between all other non-family members.
- Visitors will be required to follow directional arrows placed throughout the Museum.
- One-way flow has been established to the extent possible through the galleries.
- Directional foot traffic will be indicated on stairways.
- The interactive elements in the family center at the base of the staircase will be relocated to the much larger auditorium so that educational activities can be enjoyed with safe distancing.
- Toys/materials will be disinfected throughout the day. There will also be cleaning supplies stationed so that families can disinfect as needed.
- Social distancing signs will be placed throughout the Museum’s outdoor sculpture trail.
- The coat room will not be available for use. Large bags and backpacks are not permitted.
- Visitors should plan to leave these items in their car.
- Restroom occupancy has been reduced to one person or one family at a time.
- Restrooms will be disinfected three times daily.
- Restrooms are equipped with touchless hand soap dispensers.
- The elevator occupancy has been reduced to one person or one family at a time.
- The Museum will only accept credit or debit cards for on-site purchases, cash is not permitted.
- The Museum’s front desk will be equipped with a plexiglass partition between visitors and staff.
- Stanchions will be placed in the lobby for traffic control purposes.
- A professional cleaning of the Museum will be conducted before the Museum reopens on June 30th.
- Enhanced cleaning of high touch surfaces will be conducted throughout the day.
- Hand-sanitizer units will be stationed throughout the Museum.
- Food and beverages are not permitted inside the Museum.
- Group tours and large events have been temporarily suspended.
- A protocol for addressing issues of non-compliance in relation to visitors, volunteers and guests has been established.
- A protocol to address any incidences of symptomatic staff or guests has been established.
- In the event the Lyman Allyn is notified that a visitor to the Museum has been diagnosed with COVID-19, we will alert the public via our website and social media platforms.
COVID-19 Museum Updates
Update: Monday, March 30
In response to the heightened concerns relating to the spread of the coronavirus, the Museum will remain closed to the public until we have been given assurance from State authorities that it is safe to resume normal operations. During this time, all Museum events are cancelled or postponed. This measure reflects our commitment to do what we can to ensure the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, visitors, and community.
Update: Friday, March 13
Dear Lyman Allyn Friends,
Yesterday we posted a message announcing the Lyman Allyn’s intent to remain open while we closely monitor the COVID-19 outbreak. In response to the heightened concerns relating to the spread of the coronavirus, the Museum has now decided to close to the public beginning Saturday, March 14 and remain closed through at least March 31. During this time, all Museum events are cancelled or postponed. This precautionary measure reflects our commitment to ensure the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, visitors, and community.
Given the evolving nature of the outbreak, we will carefully reassess the situation in the coming weeks and share updates as they become available. Please continue to check our website for new information. We appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you to the Lyman Allyn again soon.
If you need to contact a staff member, please email them.
Sincerely,
Sam Quigley
Director
Update: Thursday, March 12
As you no doubt are aware, the State of Connecticut has declared a public health emergency in response to COVID-19.
Our visitors’ well-being is our primary focus amid recent concerns around coronavirus, and we are taking precautions to keep our visitors, members, and staff healthy. While our galleries and exhibitions remain open for regular business hours, we ask that you consider your own health, and the well-being of others, before you make your decision to visit a public space.
Here are some of the steps we are taking to welcome visitors into a safe environment:
- All door handles and stairway banisters are disinfected three times a day.
- Hand sanitation stations are located at the front desk, the 2nd floor landing, and inside the art studio.
- Antibacterial wipes are located downstairs in the children’s play area and by the TV outside of Glassenberg Gallery for visitors to clean the headphones at their discretion.
- The glass doors leading into American Perspectives, Glassenberg Gallery, and the 2nd floor galleries all have signs indicating visitors are to push, not pull on the doors.
- The Art Studio will be given a thorough cleaning before and after it is scheduled to be used.
- The auditorium will be given a thorough cleaning before and after it is scheduled to be used.
Based on our current knowledge of best practices and prudent recommendations, listed below is information regarding scheduled programs and events through March and April:
- Homeschool classes scheduled for March 17 and April 21 will proceed as normal for now.
- March’s Science Saturday (March 21) will proceed as scheduled.
- Todd Gipstein’s photography lecture, scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, has been postponed until April. More details, with an exact date, to come.
- Tom Schuch and Mary Sherman Lycan’s lecture, Hidden History: Slavery, Racism, and The Slave Trade in Colonial and Antebellum New London, scheduled for Thursday, March 26, has been postponed until Fall 2020.
- A decision regarding April’s Free First Saturday will be made closer to the date.
- April Vacation workshops (April 14-17) will proceed as scheduled.
- Decisions on April lectures will be made closer to the scheduled date.
- The current Art History for All class will proceed as scheduled. A decision regarding the Art History for All class with Rick Friswell starting April 28 has not been made yet.
- Adult groups currently scheduled for docent-led tours of the Museum will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please call the Education Department at 860.443.2545 ext. 2110.
- The Soaring and Scrumptious fundraising event, scheduled on April 25, will be held on June 6.
We will continue to communicate any further impacts to the Lyman Allyn Art Museum as a result of COVID-19. In the meantime, we will post updates on our social media platforms and website.
Please follow us at:
Facebook: Lyman Allyn Art Museum
Instagram: @Lyman_Allyn
Website: www.lymanallyn.org
Thank you for your patience as we work through this developing situation, together. And remember, if you are not feeling well or are experiencing flu-like symptoms, take care of yourself and plan to visit the Museum at another time.