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Museums reopen in Germany with sanitary measures 0:49
(CNN) - Since its founding in 1977, International Museum Day has been commemorated every May 18 to celebrate museums as valuable spaces for cultural exchange.
However, this year's festivities will be a little different, as the coronavirus continues to shut down many of the world's favorite institutions.
Large and small museums have suffered financial losses due to the closure in recent months. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York forecast losses of nearly $ 100 million after it closed on March 13, and according to the American Alliance of Museums, across the United States, museums are losing at least $ 33 million to day.
This has resulted in massive layoffs and, in the case of smaller galleries like Indianapolis Contemporary, even permanent closure.
It is not just about the United States, museums and galleries around the world have had to close their doors. "Raffaello", an exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the death of the Italian Renaissance painter Rafael, closed on March 8 after just three days on display.
A virtual tour of the exhibition was made available online, and Eike Schmidt, director of the Uffizi Museum in Florence, who worked closely with the Scuderie del Quirinale, to organize the show, said the physical exhibition will be extended until the end of the year, if necessary.
However, in many cases, it is not possible to delay the shows due to crowded hours and the added cost of insurance and loans. Some curators have spent months, even years, researching and preparing exhibitions that will never materialize.
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But museums are slowly reopening, especially in Europe and Asia. Since mid-March, exhibitions in China, Germany, South Korea and Switzerland have begun to receive visitors, many of whom must comply with the new regulations on temperature controls and physical distance.
In Munich, the museums of the Bavarian State Painting Collection allow one visitor for every 20 square meters of exhibition space. And in China, visitor QR codes are being scanned for details about their health and recent travel history.
Below is a list of some of the museums that have reopened, or have announced that they will do so soon.
West Bund Museum, Shanghai, China
The West Bund Museum, with a glass facade by architect David Chipperfield, reopened to the public in March. The "The Shape of Time" exhibition, part of a long-term partnership with the Center Pompidou in France, is still in sight. The exhibition consists of more than a hundred works of modern European art borrowed from the permanent collection of the Paris Institution.
Power Station of Art, Shanghai, China
Home to the Shanghai Biennale since 2012, the Power Station of Art is the first state museum of contemporary art in China, and was one of the first cultural institutions to reopen in Shanghai on March 13, after seven weeks. Housed in a renovated power plant, complete with a 165-meter-tall fireplace, the museum showcases the work of Chinese and international artists.
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, South Korea
The Seoul Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art opened its doors in late March and has since unveiled a new collection of Korean art dating from the early 20th century. The collection is divided into four sections, each spanning a period of time, including the Japanese occupation (from 1910 to 1945) and the aftermath of the 1950s, the Korean War.
Hong Kong Museum of Art
Visitors to Hong Kong museums will have a two-hour schedule to reduce overcrowding. The 13 reopened public institutions so far include the city's Heritage Museum, the History Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of Art, which was due to close shortly after completing a four-year renovation.
Asia Society, Hong Kong
To commemorate its 30th anniversary, the Asia Society is currently hosting an exhibition of 10 works by contemporary Hong Kong artists.
UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing (reopens May 21)
The UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing will reopen on May 21 with the exhibition "Meditations in an Emergency", which brings together more than 20 international artists to explore issues of crisis and emergency. The exhibition's opening will coincide with the annual Beijing Gallery weekend (starting May 22) in the 798 gallery district of the Chinese capital.
READ : Dissident artist Ai Weiwei says the virus has only strengthened China's "police state"
Berliniche Galerie Museum of Modern Art, Berlin
In accordance with the guidelines established by the German Government, all museum visitors must wear face masks. Museum authorities in Berlin are also reserving spaces for "high risk groups". The Museum of Modern Art in Berlin opened on May 4, and currently has a rotation of temporary exhibits on display, including a show highlighting the work of German photographer Otto Umbehr, also known as "Umbo".
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, Rome
The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art of Italy reopens the Day of the National Museum, with a new exhibition "A Distanza Ravvicinata" (or "A short distance"). The shows on display at the time of the country's closure in early March will also reopen for visitors, including exhibits on the work of Italian artists Gregorio Botta, Maria Elisabetta Novello and Attilio Cassinelli. The gallery is among the first major museums to reopen in Italy, and others are expected to follow in the coming days and weeks.
The Giacometti Institute, Paris
The Giacometti Institute is one of the best-known establishments to reopen in Paris, and several smaller museums have also resumed operations. A maximum of 10 people will be allowed every 10 minutes and the bathrooms will be closed. Currently, the institute shows "In search of lost works", an exhibition investigating lesser-known works by Italian sculptor Alberto Giacometti.
Fondation Beyeler, Basel, Switzerland
Located on the outskirts of Basel, the Fondation Beyeler opened its doors on May 11, after announcing extensions to two of its temporary exhibitions, "Edward Hopper" and "Silent Vision - Images of Calm and Tranquility." Museum visitors must purchase tickets in advance, and each ticket will be assigned a schedule.
The Old Masters Museum, Brussels, Belgium (reopens May 19)
Presenting Flemish works from the 15th to 18th centuries, The Old Masters Museum will be the first of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium to open to the public, though others are expected to follow in the coming weeks. The number of visitors per hour will be limited, and people are expected to follow distancing precautions.
Museum Brandhorst, Munich, Germany (reopens May 19)
The Brandhorst Museum in Munich, which houses some of the most iconic works by American artists Cy Twombly and Andy Warhol in Europe, will open its doors on May 19, celebrating its tenth anniversary with a special exhibition exploring its collection of contemporary works. , which date back to the 1960s.
Museums