Since the end of Stay-At-Home orders issued by the state of Missouri and the City of Springfield and Greene County, the Museum has developed rigorous re-entry protocols that include heightened facility maintenance and sanitization, maximum gallery occupancy monitoring, mask, glove, and sanitizer procurement for staff and patrons, and changes to the drop-in procedures of the Family Art Lab in order to ensure the health and safety of all Museum patrons, staff, and the works of art entrusted to our care.

The Museum appreciates our patrons’ patience and understanding during this time. Beginning Tuesday, June 9, the Museum will re-open to limited walk-in traffic for the following exhibitions (during normal hours of operation):

-Framed: The Art of the Picture Frame
–Watercolor USA 2020
–Storytelling Through Visual Art: Students’ experiences and perspectives during the homestay order
–Anne Lindberg: tilted sky 
–Dale Chihuly: Autumn Persian & Feather Chandelier

During this time museum patrons can expect:

• A security officer with a counter stationed at the front door to admit visitors according the following procedures:
  • 40 visitors* inside the museum at any time;
  • Visitors will be allowed in on a first-come, first-served basis,
  • Visitors will be admitted on an “equal or less-than” basis as visitors leave (For example, if three people leave the museum, three or fewer can be allowed into the museum),
  • Gallery attendants will monitor occupancy levels in individual galleries. You may be asked to wait before entering a particular gallery if its occupancy is at capacity.
  • Visitors will be discouraged from congregating and lingering in the parking lot.
  • Visitors and visitor groups will be encouraged to practice appropriate physical distancing by standing at least 6 feet apart;
  • Staff must maintain proper physical distancing and wear masks and gloves, where appropriate.
  • A sneeze guard installed at the museum’s reception desk and the public will be encouraged to stand at least 6 feet away from the reception desk. Staff will remain behind the sneeze guard. Front desk surveys are suspended until further notice.
  • Visitors will be encouraged to use hand sanitizing stations and proper respiratory etiquette;
  • High-touch surfaces, furniture, and fixtures will be cleaned immediately after contact with visitors;
  • Visitors that have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will be asked to return home and not enter the museum per the City COVID-19 Signage Policy;
  • Signage with new guidelines for visitors will be prominently displayed at the front entrance as well as throughout the museum. Signage encouraging the use of hand sanitizer will be posted adjacent to hand-sanitizing stations. Signage will comply with City COVID-19 Signage Policy.

*This number is based on occupancy guidelines for retail businesses detailed in the City of Springfield Recovery Order Phase II. This number will be updated based on guidance from the City of Springfield.

If patrons foresee any issue following these guidelines, we respectfully ask that you refrain from visiting the museum at this time. Please be prepared to wait to enter the Museum. Marked pathways may be located along the floor to indicate the best route between galleries. Security officers, gallery attendants, and other museum staff will be available to answer your questions and help you navigate these changes to museum-going procedures. All museum public programs (tours, workshops, classes, etc.), special events, and event rentals remain canceled until further notice. Limited on-site public programming is tentatively scheduled to resume on or after Tuesday, July 7.

• The Musgrave Wing, which currently houses our permanent collection exhibition Creating an American Identity, will remain closed until July 7.
• The Family Art Lab will remain closed until July 7, at which point it re-open by appointment only.
• The Hartman Gallery, which currently houses selections from our Asian Art Collection, will remain closed until Oct. 17.

We will continue to make additional refinements to our disease prevention and pandemic response procedures as necessary. For more information and guidelines for COVID-19, please visit the Springfield-Greene County Health Department’s website, health.springfieldmo.gov/coronavirus or the CDC’s website: (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html).