Although the Smart Museum of Art is temporarily closed and on-site programs remain suspended until further notice, our staff has begun planning for the safe resumption of public activities at the museum. 

Our own plans will follow the guidance and public health protocols issued by the University of Chicago’s restart planning group, and will happen in phases. In addition, we will continue to monitor guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the State of Illinois, and the City of Chicago. 

The Smart from Home digital resource page offers hands-on art activities, teaching guides, a trove of artist interviews, virtual exhibition experiences, and more. Throughout the pandemic, the Smart has remained dedicated to fostering opportunities for inquiry and exchange through our collections, exhibitions, and programs. We’ve gathered together these resources—some newly created for online distribution and some from the archive—for our community of students, scholars, caregivers, teachers, and life-long learners.

In addition, we have continued to produce digital extensions of cancelled on-site programs, at-home activities, and other virtual experiences that build upon our spring exhibition The Allure of Matter: Material Art from China. These resources, as well as an array of artist videos, are accessible at theallureofmatter.org. 

These digital activities will continue and we will communicate any plans for the resumption of on-site operations as they are made. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Smart! 

Updated: May 29, 2020