The gallery has announced that it is planning to reopen to the public on the 14th July.
The Whitechapel Gallery has unveiled plans to reopen its doors on the 14th July – with new health and safety measures put in place to prioritise the welfare of staff and visitors.
It was confirmed that its Spring programme including Radical Figures: Painting in the New Millennium, Carlos Bunga’s monumental environment and Spain’s most important collection of contemporary art will be extended through the summer.
In line with the current guidance from Public Health England, the gallery will put the following measures in place, ensuring the exhibitions and displays can be enjoyed in a safe and accessible way. This includes measures such as:
- Timed entry will be in place so visitors must book in advance via the online booking system.
- There will be one entrance and one exit to allow one-way systems around the gallery.
- Visitors will be encouraged to respect social distancing with floor markings.
- Visitors will be encouraged to wear gloves and face masks when in the building.
- Front of house staff will wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Hand sanitisers will be situated around the building.
- Regular additional cleaning will take place throughout the building.
- All live events at the gallery have been cancelled.
- The Gallery will be unable to take group bookings.
- The Koenig Bookshop will be open with limited capacity.
- Townsend restaurant will be adapted to accommodate social distancing as well as introducing a retail element with their own range of deli products. Their recipe box delivery service will be available nationwide.
Talking about the news Iwona Blazwick, Director, Whitechapel Gallery said: ‘We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the Whitechapel Gallery this July. The protection of our staff and visitors is of the utmost importance and we have implemented key measures so people can reconnect with our much-loved building in a safe environment. Arts and culture play a vital role in our emotional wellbeing and sense of community. Experiencing great art can be healing and we hope the gallery can offer some solace and a much needed space for reflection and inspiration. It is with gratitude and thanks to all our key workers, as well as a shared responsibility for the health of our communities, that we have reached a point where we can safely and responsibly open our doors once again.’
The gallery will reopen with a new opportunity to see Radical Figures: Painting in the New Millennium (extended until 30th August 2020). Surveying a new direction in figurative painting, the exhibition features works by Michael Armitage, Cecily Brown, Nicole Eisenman, Sanya Kantarovsky, Tala Madani, Ryan Mosley, Christina Quarles, Daniel Richter, Dana Schutz and Tschabalala Self. Meanwhile, also on display throughout the summer will be Carlos Bunga’s commission Something Necessary and Useful (until 6th September 2020), In the Eye of Bambi: ”la Caixa” Collection of Contemporary Art, selected by Verónica Gerber Bicecci (extended until 9 August 2020), The Return of the Spirit in Painting(until 27th September 2020) and Rachel Pimm: Plates (extended until 9th August 2020). Artists Film International will continue to be presented online as well as return to the Zilkha Auditorium on weekends only, with social distancing measures in place.
For more information about the gallery visit: https://www.whitechapelgallery.org/