Museum Prepares For Reopening

The New Brunswick Museum in Saint John is preparing to reopen on Tuesday for the first time in nearly four months.

The museum, like many other places, was forced to close in mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dominique Gelinas, head of exhibitions and visitor experience, said they have been preparing for the reopening since early May.

“I didn’t want to open very quickly and just have the gallery to offer,” said Gelinas during a recent phone interview.

Gelinas said many of the museum’s existing programs had to be paused because they do not meet physical distancing requirements.

But she said teams are working on innovative new ways to keep people engaged, including more walking tours outside the galleries and unique digital experiences.

A new temporary exhibition, “What is… an exhibition?”, has been reviewed and transformed since its original opening just days before the pandemic closure. Visitors will be able to see behind and in front of the scenes of developing an exhibition.

Gelinas said the third floor of the museum will remain closed to the public for now, which includes the Discovery Gallery.

“I have some summer students I have to redeploy and give some space so we shut down the third floor, but we’re going to bring back all the New Brunswick art on the main floor,” she said.

Physical distancing and hygiene protocols have been put in place and the use of non-medical masks is highly recommended.

The museum has instituted a 90-minute time limit for visitors and also reduced its hours to allow more time for disinfecting. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Gelinas said while the exhibition centre at Market Square will reopen Tuesday, the archives and research library on Douglas Avenue will remain closed for now due to ongoing construction.

The New Brunswick Museum Exhibition Centre will re-open to the public on July 7, 2020.
For more information https://t.co/UOYD9untlH

Le Centre d’exposition du Musée du Nouveau-Brunswick rouvre ses portes au public le 7 juillet 2020.
Pour en savoir plus https://t.co/tFKdpV31Y3 pic.twitter.com/bbVW27ohyv

— NBM-MNB (@nbmmnb) June 30, 2020