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COVID-19 UPDATE

Winter and Spring 2021 Schedule

The Smart Museum of Art has begun planning for the safe resumption of public activities and is currently scheduled to reopen on April 8, 2021, offering timed reservations to visit the special exhibition Lust, Love, and Loss in Renaissance Europe.

Throughout February and March, the Smart Museum will continue to offer a series of online programs, virtual experiences, and at-home art activities. The Museum will also continue to support UChicago student and faculty research and teaching with objects from the collection, by appointment with the Feitler Center for Academic Inquiry. At the same time, the Smart Museum and UChicago Facilities will use the coming weeks to complete the final phase of a multi-year project to modernize our HVAC system.

In making our preparations, the Smart Museum will continue to monitor public health guidelines issued by the University of Chicago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the State of Illinois, and the City of Chicago. Please check our website or social media channels for the latest updates on hours, reservations, and visitor protocols.

We look forward to seeing you this spring!

QUESTIONS?
Contact our visitor services team at 773.702.0185 or smart-museum@uchicago.edu. 

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

The University of Chicago’s COVID-19 daily health protocols apply to everyone on campus, including visitors to the Smart Museum. In order to visit the Smart, you will be required to complete an attestation form confirming that you are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms and agreeing to comply with social distancing and safety protocols during your time at the Smart.

By appointment only

• Timed reservations, limited capacity—reservations are required prior to your visit
• Visiting hours will be limited to Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 11 am–4 pm; Wednesday by special appointment for University of Chicago groups.
• Admission remains free of charge, and appointments are open to anyone who can safely visit
• Everyone who makes a reservation must agree to follow the Museum’s health practices when they visit the Museum

Universal face coverings and hand hygiene

• Everyone, including the Museum visitors and staff, must wear a face covering over the nose and the mouth in University buildings, and on the campus grounds when others are present
• Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the building—hand washing and using hand sanitizer keeps you healthy and prevents the spread of infections

Social distancing

• Staggered appointment entry times—in order to allow for appropriate social distancing and other safety measures, only a small number of visitors will be in the museum at any given time
• Visits will be limited to 1 hour
• Keep a safe distance—throughout your visit, stay at least 6 feet apart from other people
• There will be dedicated entry and exit points to the Museum and gallery spaces

Self-monitoring
Anyone coming to campus must self-monitor for symptoms and stay home if they have potentially been exposed to COVID-19 or have had any symptoms, including:

• Cough
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Body aches
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

Arriving at the Smart Museum
If driving to the Smart Museum, parking is available one block away, in the University's Campus North parking garage located on 55th Street and Ellis Avenue. There is also metered visitor and accessible parking spaces available in the Young parking lot located just to the west of the Museum.

Please note, access to academic, dining, and campus arts facilities may be limited. For additional information, review the University’s updates on Winter and Spring Quarters.

HOW WE’RE PREPARING

Our re-opening plan follows the guidance and public health protocols from the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, and University of Chicago.  

We are further supporting a safe museum space and campus environment by:

Cleaning
We are enhancing and increasing the frequency of cleaning and sanitation across the building, especially for high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces

Training
Before returning to the Museum, all Smart employees will complete the University of Chicago’s training module on campus health and safety precautions

COVID-19 monitoring, case reporting, and contact tracing

Anyone coming to campus—including Museum staff and visitors—must self-monitor for symptoms and stay home if they have potentially been exposed to COVID-19 or have a fever, cough, or other symptoms

• Any guest who tests positive for COVID-19 within 2 days following their visit to the Museum should notify us at SmartC19HealthReport@uchicago.edu. 
• The University of Chicago, in partnership with UChicago Medicine, has established a team dedicated to timely contact tracing for reported cases of COVID-19 involving the campus community.

WHAT’S NEXT

We will continue to monitor guidelines issued by the University of Chicago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois. We will evaluate our plan regularly and may further adjust as the situation develops.