Galt Museum to reopen to public on June 2
By Jensen, Randy on May 25, 2020.
Herald photo by Ian Martens -
The Galt Museum and Archives will begin a limited reopening to the public on June 2. @IMartensHeraldGreg Bobinec
Lethbridge Herald
After months of closure, The Galt Museum & Archives will once again be opening its doors to the public on June 2, in a limited fashion after closing to the public on March 15.
“We are excited to open our doors to the public again, but the safety of our staff and visitors is our primary concern,” says Darrin Martens, CEO/executive director, in a news release. “Our team has been carefully planning how to ensure that our facility is as safe as possible.”
One of the most significant changes to be implemented for reopening is ticketed admission. The tickets are the price of a regular adult admission, and visitors are asked to purchase them on the Galt’s website before arriving. To ensure social distancing guidelines, the Galt will maintain a capacity of only 50 individuals. Researchers needing in-person access to the Archives will also need to register for a time slot on the Galt’s website.
“Our online ticketing uses the same award-winning system that we launched earlier in the year for our school class bookings,” says Martens. “Each time slot has 50 tickets available, and those will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.”
Tickets will be available for time slots between noon and 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. Annual pass holders will have an opportunity to book a time slot in the mornings from 10 a.m. until noon, where those times will be limited to 40 individuals at a time.
“We know that many of our annual pass holders are in age groups that are more vulnerable to COVID-19,” says Martens. “Inviting them to book their visit earlier in the day and with a smaller group is one way we can help them stay healthy and safe.”
Other changes include shorter hours to allow Galt staff members to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, as well as asking visitors to leave coats and personal items at home since the coat racks and lockers will be closed. They will also be providing a sheet of activities to engage young visitors, and limiting access to the Museum Store.
“Because it’s difficult to monitor and regularly clean surfaces in the store area, we will be keeping the gates closed to the store, says Michelle Christensen, Visitor Services co-ordinator. “Our staff will bring any items that visitors want to purchase to the desk and facilitate the transaction, and we will continue to enhance the selection of items for sale through our website.”
As the Galt Museum & Archives works at new practices to open up their facility to the community to learn about local history, they are excited to reopen for more learning and fun activities. To purchase tickets and to find more information on their new operations visit galtmuseum.com.
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