The Metropolitan Museum will close temporarily beginning today. All three locations – Met Fifth Avenue, Met Breuer, and Met Cloisters – will undergo a thorough cleaning during the closure. The effort follows citywide efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus.
Daniel H. Weiss, President and CEO of the Museum, stated: ‘The Met’s priority is to protect and support our staff, volunteers, and visitors, and we have been taking several proactive precautionary measures, including discouraging travel to affected areas, implementing rigorous cleaning routines, and staying in close communication with New York City health officials and the Centers for Disease Control.’ Early next week the museum will announce next steps.
The megagalleries are also putting measures in place in response to the outbreak. Hauser & Wirth updated its website with a message from directors Manuela and Iwan Wirth and Marc Payot, announcing the temporary closure of their New York and Los Angeles galleries. Pace Gallery also revealed that its New York locations would be shut for an indefinite amount of time and events across all locations would be on hold. David Zwirner’s New York locations will also be closed to the public save for the 20th Street gallery, however, which will remain open by appointment only.
13 March 2020
