The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens today announced its second phase of reopening, which restores community access to the Museum’s indoor galleries and exhibitions in a limited capacity, will begin on Tuesday, July 21, 2020. 

This announcement follows the safe and successful first phase of reopening that began on June 20 with the historic riverfront gardens, light bites and beverage service through the Cummer Café and two pop-up locations of the Museum Shop. The Museum will continue to limit daily capacity across the campus for the foreseeable future.

“Since the Museum closed to the public in March, we have been diligently working toward the day when we could safely welcome the community back to our galleries to find comfort, inspiration and respite during this challenging time,” said Interim Director and Chief Advancement Officer, Kerrie Slattery. “We are grateful to be able to open our doors so that everyone can once again experience art, culture and connection, in a safe and socially distanced setting.”

To celebrate the reopening of the galleries and honor Northeast Florida’s military community, VyStar Credit Union will sponsor free admission for active duty service members and their families on July 25 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and July 26 (12 to 4 p.m.). 

"VyStar Credit Union has a deep appreciation for our military, and we are proud to partner with the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens to sponsor free admission for service members and their families," said Brian Wolfburg, President/CEO of VyStar Credit Union. "We hope this provides a meaningful experience that celebrates the rich art and culture found in our community."

Members and guests are required to reserve a timed ticket in advance of their visit at cummermuseum.org/admission. Tickets are available in two-hour time increments, with dates and times for the upcoming week updated every Monday. 

The Museum has implemented many safety and sanitation measures, including hand sanitizer stations throughout the campus, plexiglass guards for the front desk area and expanded daily cleaning and sanitation policies for all common areas and surfaces according to the Centers for Disease Control and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines. All galleries now feature routes to direct the flow of movement and support social distancing. Transitioning to a timed ticket model provides additional time for cleaning and disinfecting throughout the campus, including high-touch surfaces. Museum staff, members and guests are required to wear masks. 

The Cummer Café will fully reopen on August 1. Art Connections, the Museum’s interactive education center, will remain temporarily closed for remodeling.

For information about the Museum’s permanent collection, internally curated gallery spaces and special exhibitions, visit cummermuseum.org/visit/art. The Museum’s digital gallery experiences, virtual tours and online resources remain available to the community at cummermuseum.org/engage.