New York (AFP)
Two major New York museums, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum, announced on Friday that they will reopen in the coming weeks, with limited capacity, after nearly half a year of closure due to the pandemic of coronavirus.
The Met, closed since March 13 when it normally welcomes some seven million visitors each year, will reopen on August 29.
Authorities in New York, the epicenter of the American epidemic in the spring but where it is now under control, have authorized the reopening of cultural venues from August 24.
“After nearly six months, the reopening of the Met will be a historic moment for the museum and the city,” the institution's president, Daniel Weiss, said in a statement.
“During these last months of uncertainty, isolation and pain, we have looked forward to the day when we can once again welcome everyone safely to the Met,” he added.
However, the museum will only accommodate the public at 25% of its maximum capacity, and only by prior reservation, in order to ensure physical distancing.
The same measure will be applied to the Whitney Museum, which will reopen on September 3.
Another major New York museum, MoMa, has yet to announce its reopening date. The Metropolitan Opera is scheduled to resume service on December 31, while Broadway theaters will remain closed until at least January.
© 2020 AFP