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The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and its sister location the Momentary in Bentonville, Arkansas are a lesser-known establishment in the art industry when compared to New York Museums, but have trail blazed through the COVID-19 pandemic. They were one of the first major museums to reopen their doors to the public and have safeguarded all their employees from the economic turmoil this pandemic has caused for the United States.

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On March 16, 2020 Crystal Bridge closed its doors to the public three days after President Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency.

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The museums will be closed until March 31 to contain the possible spread of COVID-19.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art today announced that the museum will temporarily close effective Monday, March 16 at 6 p.m. and the Momentary will close today at 7 p.m. to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Both venues will remain closed until March 31. Programs and events for March and April have also been canceled.

Officials for Crystal Bridges and the Momentary say they will continue to assess the situation daily and will share updates as they become available.

"Like many public institutions around the world, we've been closely monitoring CDC reports on COVID-19 as well as following recommendations from the state of Arkansas and working with local government organizations," said Rod Bigelow, executive director and chief diversity & inclusion officer of Crystal Bridges. "Though there are no confirmed cases in Northwest Arkansas, for the safety of our visitors, staff, volunteers, and this community, we've made the decision to temporarily close."

Crystal Bridges has up to five miles of trails and grounds that will remain open, offering visitors the opportunity to view artwork in a natural setting; for those visiting the trails, please follow CDC recommendations.

As a museum focused on access to art, there are also Virtual Reality resources available and the collection available through eMuseum . While Crystal Bridges and the Momentary are closed, staff will actively seek out ways to share art online, through the websites, social media, blogs, videos and more.

"The Momentary is grateful for the tremendous support for the opening of our new art space," said Lieven Bertels, director of the Momentary. "Though we are eager to welcome new visitors as soon as possible, we are prioritizing the health of our guests and staff first."

Both locations will maintain security and climate systems for the protection of the artwork and the Call Center will be open to help answer questions. All employees will continue to be paid during this closure.

Canceled Events: In an effort to comply with CDC recommendations to limit large gatherings and encourage social distancing, Crystal Bridges and the Momentary canceled programs for the remainder of March and April at both locations. Patrons who have purchased tickets to programs, exhibitions, or tours can expect a full refund that will be issued automatically. Ticket holders were notified by email with this information on Friday. Due to the high volume of programs, it may take up to 10 business days to see the credit. Some events may be rescheduled in the future, and subscribers will be notified through eNewsletters, and on the website and social media.

FreshGrass | Bentonville Postponed: This festival will no longer take place on April 24-25; however, officials are working through the details to reschedule the event in the fall. Current festival passes will automatically convert to the new festival date, and ticket holders will be contacted in the next few weeks with full event details. For visitors who prefer a full refund, they may fill out a request .

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Crystal Bridges and Momentary closing until the end of March

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The museums will be closed until March 31 to contain the possible spread of COVID-19. BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art today announced that the museum will temporarily close effective Monday, March 16 at 6 p.m. and the Momentary will close today at 7 p.m.

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On March 17, the museums informed that they offer free virtual tours on their website, https://crystalbridges.org/vr/ , with the options of: a guided, a self-tour, or a virtual field trip for schools.

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BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) - Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art may be closed, but you can still enjoy a virtual reality tour right at home.

According to its website, you can explore the museum's gallery and even step inside one of the museum's most iconic artworks, Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand.

You could also take a tour of the Bachman Wilson House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, or get a peek inside the Fly's Eye Dome, a 50-foot structure "envisioned as a prototype for efficient, economical housing."

Check out the Crystal Bridges' YouTube page for more videos, or take a look at the museum's collection online.

For more on these and other ways to stay connected with Crystal Bridges during its closure, read this blog post from the museum.

Ways to stay in The Momentary while quarantining:

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Take a virtual tour at Crystal Bridges amid coronavirus shutdown

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BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) - Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art may be closed, but you can still enjoy a virtual reality tour right at home. According to its website, you can explore the museum's gallery and even step inside one of the museum's most iconic artworks, Kindred Spirits by Asher B.

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Crystal Bridges had to scramble to figure out how to preserve months and if not years of planning for exhibits that were interrupted by COVID-19. Crystal had to postpone the exhibits showing like, “Nick Cave: Until” until September 12, 2020.1  While figuring out how to extend exhibits ending to offer more time for visitors to see “Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal” took some negotiation with other museums in line for the exhibit.2

1 Artsy Editorial and Shannon Lee, “How COVID-19 Has Thrown Museum Exhibition Planning into Disarray,” June 4, 2020, https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-covid-19-thrown-museum-exhibition-planning-disarray. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-covid-19-thrown-museum-exhibition-planning-disarray.

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Crystal Bridges did not reopen on March 30 like they had hoped.

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In a global pandemic, the economy has not favored art museums. Luckily both Crystal Bridges and the Momentary are sponsored by the Walton family, the heirs to the Walmart fortune.  This allowed all 344 employees at both locations to keep their jobs without any ramifications, such as layoffs, furloughs or pay cuts.
1. Steve Paul, “Visitors Return to Crystal Bridges amid Adaptations and Provocations,” The Art Newspaper (The Art Newspaper, June 12, 2020), https://www.theartnewspaper.com/review/visitors-return-to-crystal-bridges-amid-adaptations-and-provocations.

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The museum announced on June 4 their plans on reopening the facilities on June 10.

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Following the guidance of health partners, state and national government officials, and peer institutions, Crystal Bridges reopened to the public on June 10 with limited capacity and new safety measures.

Below you will find a guide of what you can expect now at Crystal Bridges, including new safety guidelines, spaces that will remain closed or have limited service, and more.

1. The number of guests allowed in the museum is limited; free timed-entry tickets are required

For your safety, free timed ticket reservations are required.

Generally, weekday mornings, as well as weekend days, book fully, while afternoon and evening hours during the weekday tend to be less crowded. If you have a reserved, timed ticket, you may experience some delays in order to maintain limited capacity for safety reasons.

Crystal Bridges is limiting the number of guests by inviting up to 30 guests per 15 minutes. These numbers are based on five people per 1,000 square feet of public space, which adheres to a one-third capacity per state guidelines for indoor venues. Visitors will receive an email prior to their visit with information about how to prepare and what to expect. Timed tickets ensure the museum has limited attendance per state guidelines.

Admission is still free for all!

2. Enhanced safety precautions are in effect

These are some of the safety guidelines you can expect to see and abide by at Crystal Bridges:

The museum will offer a no-touch experience when possible. This includes the elimination of physical ticket interactions. Doors that can safely remain open will be propped open to minimize touch and when that is not possible, staff and/or volunteers will open doors for visitors.

As a safety precauti on and to comply with the state of Arkansas mandate, Crystal Bridges and the Momentary require visitors and staff to wear face coverings for ages 10 and older indoors and outdoors. This state order requires every person in Arkansas to wear a face covering of the mouth and nose in all indoor and outdoor environments where there is exposure to non-household members and social distancing cannot be assured. Accordingly, face coverings should be worn on Crystal Bridges trails and grounds and the Momentary Green when close contact with non-household members could o ccur, including for programs and events, as well as at food and drink venues, except when eating and drinking.

Following the most recent recommendations from the CDC, face shields and face coverings with exhaust valves or vents are not allowed.

Masks are available upon entry and at outdoor events and venues for those who do not have one.

Signage will be in place to reinforce social distancing rules, including designated paths noted for guests throughout the spaces.

All staff and volunteers will undergo temperature checks prior to entering the building.

Cleaning and sanitization will increase with the addition of hand sanitizer stations throughout the building.

3. Some museum spaces remain closed or have limited service

Galleries will be open but interactive works of art will not be in use and hands-on engagements including audio guides will be suspended until further notice. Visitors are encouraged to download the Crystal Bridges app.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Bachman-Wilson House, Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room, and artmaking space will remain closed until further notice due to limited space for social distancing.

The Library will be open with limited capacity and access to computers, as well as increased cleaning procedures. Digital library resources are available .

Eleven will be open and will operate at one-third capacity. Seating and tables will be cleaned before/after each use. Face coverings must be worn by all guests when not seated at their assigned table.

The Coffee Bar will be open with guests queuing at six-feet distance with the help of floor markings. Touchless transactions are being tested and plexiglass barriers at the register have been installed.

Shuttles between the Crystal Bridges entrance and additional parking will run; all riders (staff and guests) must wear face coverings. Riders will be spaced to honor physical distancing and the seats will be cleaned between trips. The shuttle between the Momentary, Crystal Bridges, and 21c Museum Hotel will not be operating until further notice.

4. The trails will remain open

The trails and grounds around Crystal Bridges remained open throughout quarantine and they will continue to remain open for everyone to enjoy. We have added signage to the trails to help visitors maintain social distancing, keeping six feet apart.

5. Programs will still be offered virtually

Virtual programs and artmaking classes will still be offered through sign-up on the Crystal Bridges website for those who would like to maintain physical distancing.

Thank you for helping us ensure the safety for all when you visit. Visitors who are unable to visit in person can continue to enjoy Crystal Bridges with online programs , virtual reality , # CBfromHome activities , , the full collection available through eMuseum , and weekly eNewsletter updates.

We are also aware that this news comes at a time of distress as communities around the country are calling for change. We believe in the transformative power of art and we hope that you use our offerings to find comfort, spark conversation, and continue your social justice education. You can learn more about our institutional perspective here.

The Momentary is open, too! Find out what to expect for the Momentary's reopening here.

If you have any additional questions, please contact us at 479.418.5700. We look forward to welcoming you to the museum soon.

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What to Expect for Crystal Bridges' Reopening - Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

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Following the guidance of health partners, state and national government officials, and peer institutions, Crystal Bridges reopened to the public on June 10 with limited capacity and new safety measures. Below you will find a guide of what you can expect now at Crystal Bridges, including new safety guidelines, spaces that will remain closed or have limited service, and more.

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There is a mask mandate order by the governor in Arkansas, and Crystal Bridges are observing the mandate and require their visitors to always wear a mask while in and outside of the buildings. Crystal Bridges does provide masks if one is needed. To limit occupancy and keep social distancing to six feet, registering for tickets are require every 15 minutes the museum allows 30 people inside. Registering for tickets is free since Crystal Bridges admission is free. There is no time limit to how long each person is in the museums. 1
1. “What to Expect for Crystal Bridges' Reopening,” Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, December 4, 2020, https://crystalbridges.org/blog/what-to-expect-for-crystal-bridges-reopening/.

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Due to the nature of some of Crystal Bridges exhibits where the artwork takes up a lot of floor space there is not a safe way to practice social distancing. Exhibits that are closed to the public are, “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Backman- Wilson House”, “Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room” and the Studio. Are these exhibits are a part of the permit collection of the museums and will be open again when it is deemed safe too.
1. “What to Expect for Crystal Bridges' Reopening,” Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, December 4, 2020, https://crystalbridges.org/blog/what-to-expect-for-crystal-bridges-reopening/.

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360 Video: "Infinity Mirrored Room" by Yayoi Kusama at Crystal Bridges

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Crystal Bridges has unique layouts that allowed the museums to navigate the pandemic differently from public museums. With the backing of the Walton family, they do not have to depend on donations or pay cuts to keep the museum afloat during government shutdowns or restrictions placed on them when it came to reopening. Their safety precautions are up to par with what the state has placed on them for practicing social distancing, wearing a face mask, and sanitization stations. Where the museum stands out to me is the negotiating to extended exhibit showing time at the museum and being able to postpone an exhibit that was supposed to happen during the summer to be shown during the fall when visitors can come and admire what the museum has to offer.