Author: Cailyn Schiltz

The Chazen Museum of Art announced on its website that it will open back up on an appointment-only, limited basis on July 14th. 

According to an Instagram post, the museum will open its doors to 25 guests at a time from 12-5 P.M. on Tuesdays through Fridays. Visitors must register for a 45-minute appointment to visit the 1st and 2nd-floor galleries which include Faculty Exhibition 2020,Speaking of Book Arts: Oral Histories from UW-Madison, and recent acquisitions from the Chazen's permanent collection.

While this is a marked decrease from their expansion in September 2019 to being open 84 hours a week, making them the most open museum in America, Museum Director Amy Gilman is confident that the Chazen can shift back into full gear soon. 

“I am totally optimistic we will be back at our extended hours. We are just trying to take this slowly, thoughtfully and methodically so we can learn as we go,” said Gilman. “We want to keep people safe. We want you to feel confident that when you come to visit, we have your safety and staff safety at the front of mind.”

The Chazen will only allow 25 guests in at a time and require face masks and physical distancing to protect both staff and museum-goers, according to their Eventbrite page. The Chazen also asks anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 to please stay home and reschedule their visit.  

Students and community members alike are thrilled to visit the Chazen again. Destinee Siebe, a UW-Madison graduate student, is excited to safely spend her birthday at the museum. 

“I've loved the Chazen since I got here,” said Siebe. “I have missed that urban solitude, the feeling of being alone in a public place.” 

The Chazen's staff is delighted to have people back in the museum as well. Director Amy Gilman will be at the museum for the first week to personally welcome the first round of visitors back. 

“Art requires you to come in and engage and have a reaction to it,” said Gilman. “I'm just so excited to have people back in the building!”