Montreal (AFP)

“Like a good medicine!”: Quebecers in need of art did not hide their excitement and their relief Thursday in the aisles of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, again open to the public after long months of confinement.

“Our first visitor!” Exclaims Stéphane Aquin, the director of the museum, applauding Sylvie Sills.

"It's historic!"

This 57-year-old retiree says she is "really moved to return to the museum" and explains that she did not want to miss the exhibition of the Canadian painter Jean-Paul Riopelle (1923-2002).

"It was too long," she adds.

Museums were forced to close their doors on October 1, along with bars, restaurants, cinemas and libraries, at a time when coronavirus cases were climbing sharply in the province, then the most affected by the pandemic in Canada.

"Museums are one of the safest places you can imagine when it comes to public meetings, public experiences," Mr. Aquin told AFP.

Ticket sales on site have ended, visitors must book online.

On the ground, markings call for maintaining a distance of two meters.

The benches have disappeared from the exhibition halls to avoid crowds, but folding seats are available to the public.

"It's like a good medicine, a breath of fresh air ... It feels good to be out!" Said Richard Cassidy, 45 years old.

"It's something that I missed a lot," confirms Colette Richer, 61, an MMFA subscriber.

"Even if we can see the exhibitions in virtual, by internet, it always feels good to see them in person, to be present, we feel more the works".

On the staff side too, the time has come for joy.

Employee of the museum for three years, Louis-Philippe Ouellette, supervisor of customer service, is jubilant.

"It's very special especially after so many months in confinement to be able to see our teammates again, to be able to review the works of the museum and the new exhibitions that are presented to the public. It's very exciting", explains the young man of 24 years. .

The reopening also helps breathe new life into this Montreal institution, which has nevertheless succeeded in preserving jobs.

"The closure is expensive for the museum because obviously we have no ticket sales," confirms Mr. Aquin.

"We will need government support to help us regain fiscal balance";

Also affected by the partial deconfinement, non-essential businesses in the province, closed since December 25, were able to reopen on Monday.

© 2021 AFP