Museums were given the go-ahead to welcome back guests under new guidelines at the end of June when Chicago moved into Phase 4 of its reopening plan, but most cultural institutions have taken extra time to prepare for visitors. Last week the Field Museum announced that it will reopen to the public on July 24, and today the Museum of Contemporary Art followed suit, meaning that you'll be able to explore two of the city's most beloved institutions in the coming weeks.
The Field Museum will reopen to members on Friday, July 17 (the general public will be welcomed back on July 24), with attendance capped at 25 percent of the building's capacity. Visitors will be required to wear a face mask and follow one-way paths through exhibitions. They'll also encounter more than 140 new hand-sanitizer stations spread throughout the museum. Guests will be able to walk through the "Apsáalooke Women and Warriors" exhibition, a collection curated by a Native American scholar that opened just a few days before the Field Museum was forced to shut down in March.
The Museum of Contemporary Art will offer free admission through the end of August when it reopens on July 24, with tickets available via the MCA's website. Capacity will be capped at 625 people, face masks will be required at all times and a one-way path (marked with arrows) will guide visitors through the building and exhibitions. British-Nigerian fashion designer Duro Olowu's tribute to local creativity "Duro Olowu: Seeing Chicago" will be on display through September 27, alongside an exhibition showcasing the work of Chicago filmmaker Deborah Stratman and a timely collection of pieces exploring the current circumstances of the world called "Just Connect."
Head to the Field Museum's and Museum of Contemporary Art's respective websites for more information about tickets. The Field Museum will be open Thursday through Monday from 9am to 5pm and the MCA will be open from 11am to 6pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the end of August.
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