A man a wearing protective mask visits the Museum of Illusion in Paris, as France eased the lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of Covid-19. AFP
A man a wearing protective mask visits the Museum of Illusion in Paris, as France eased the lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of Covid-19. AFP
A man wearing a protective mask looks at art in the Museum of Illusion in Paris. AFP
A man wearing a protective mask looks at art in the Museum of Illusion in Paris. AFP
Social distance markers are placed on the floor of the Museum of Illusion in Paris, advising visitors to keep a safe six-foot distance from each other. AFP
Social distance markers are placed on the floor of the Museum of Illusion in Paris, advising visitors to keep a safe six-foot distance from each other. AFP
Two visitors wearing protective masks visit the Museum of Illusion in Paris. AFP
Two visitors wearing protective masks visit the Museum of Illusion in Paris. AFP
An employee of the Museum of Illusion disinfects a bench after the passage of visitors. AFP
An employee of the Museum of Illusion disinfects a bench after the passage of visitors. AFP
People wearing protective masks visit the Museum of Illusion in Paris. AFP
People wearing protective masks visit the Museum of Illusion in Paris. AFP
France is among the countries to begin lifting coronavirus lockdown restrictions. AFP
France is among the countries to begin lifting coronavirus lockdown restrictions. AFP
Restorers at work in front of Rembrandt van Rijn's 'The Night Watch' at the Rijksmuseum (National Museum) in Amsterdam. Only two researchers can work on the masterpiece at the same time due to new safety measures. EPA
Restorers at work in front of Rembrandt van Rijn's 'The Night Watch' at the Rijksmuseum (National Museum) in Amsterdam. Only two researchers can work on the masterpiece at the same time due to new safety measures. EPA
A visitor wearing a face mask climbs a flight of stairs at the Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) museum in Berlin on May 12, 2020, after the museum reopened its doors to the public following a relaxation of lockdown restrictions. AFP
A visitor wearing a face mask climbs a flight of stairs at the Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) museum in Berlin on May 12, 2020, after the museum reopened its doors to the public following a relaxation of lockdown restrictions. AFP
People wearing protective face masks visit 'A tribute to donors' exhibition at the National Art Museum of China on the first day after reopening, in Beijing, China, 13 May 2020. EPA
People wearing protective face masks visit 'A tribute to donors' exhibition at the National Art Museum of China on the first day after reopening, in Beijing, China, 13 May 2020. EPA
A woman visits the 'A tribute to donors' exhibition at the National Art Museum of China. EPA
A woman visits the 'A tribute to donors' exhibition at the National Art Museum of China. EPA
The National Art Museum of China has reopened for visitors after it was closed down in January due to the outbreak of the coronavirus and COVID-19 disease. EPA/ROMAN PILIPEY
The National Art Museum of China has reopened for visitors after it was closed down in January due to the outbreak of the coronavirus and COVID-19 disease. EPA/ROMAN PILIPEY
Museum goers wearing protective face masks visit 'A tribute to donors' exhibition at the National Art Museum of China on the first day after reopening. EPA/ROMAN PILIPEY
Museum goers wearing protective face masks visit 'A tribute to donors' exhibition at the National Art Museum of China on the first day after reopening. EPA/ROMAN PILIPEY
Photographers wearing protective face masks take photos of guests during 'A tribute to donors' exhibition at the National Art Museum of China on the first day after reopening. EPA
Photographers wearing protective face masks take photos of guests during 'A tribute to donors' exhibition at the National Art Museum of China on the first day after reopening. EPA
A woman wearing a protective face mask visits the 'A tribute to donors' exhibition at the National Art Museum of China on the first day after reopening. EPA
A woman wearing a protective face mask visits the 'A tribute to donors' exhibition at the National Art Museum of China on the first day after reopening. EPA
A museum goers snaps a photo of an artwork at the National Art Museum of China on the first day after reopening. EPA
A museum goers snaps a photo of an artwork at the National Art Museum of China on the first day after reopening. EPA
A man takes a photo of a work on display as part of the 'A tribute to donors' exhibition at the National Art Museum of China. EPA
A man takes a photo of a work on display as part of the 'A tribute to donors' exhibition at the National Art Museum of China. EPA

Art

The surreal landscape of post-lockdown museums - in pictures

As some institutions around the world ease restrictions, museums adapt to life post-lockdown

Razmig Bedirian
Razmig Bedirian

May 14, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

As countries across Europe and Asia start to ease coronavirus-related restrictions, many institutions are beginning to consider opening their doors to the public again, albeit with a few added safety procedures in place.

Museums have been at the forefront of this gradual return to normality.

While each museum has its own spin on safety measures, most have set up hand-sanitizing stations around exhibition spaces. Many have clear markings on the floor advising visitors to keep a six-feet distance from one another. And, in most museums, visitors are required to wear protective masks.

China’s museums were among the first in the world to open their doors again after temporarily closing in January. A few museum, such as the Shanghai Museum, have installed scanners to check visitors’ temperatures before they enter the premises. The Palace Museum in Beijing, which sees almost 20 million visitors every year, has also reopened. However, only 5,000 people a day are allowed to enter the museum as employees ensure that social distancing is practiced.

The National Museum of Korea in Seoul reopened on Wednesday, May 6. However, the museum is capping its daily visitor limit at 300 people, and visitors are required to book their entry permits online before arriving.

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In Europe, German museums have been among the first to reopen. In Berlin, museums were allowed to open from May 4, however many of them, such as the Berlinische Galerie, opted to open a week after restrictions were lifted to ensure safety measures could be properly applied. Other museums in Germany, such as the Gemaldegalerie and the Altes Museum, reopened on Tuesday, May 12.

France also began cautiously relaxing restrictions on Monday, May 11. For the first time in two months, the population can now leave their homes without the need of a permit. Small museums in France have been allowed to reopen – provided they put safety procedures in place.

In Switzerland, several museums also began reopening on Tuesday, May 11, with sheaths that have kept the artworks concealed for the last few months finally being removed.

It could certainly be a long while before we begin to see crowds amassing in exhibition halls, forming snaking queues to snap a photo of the Starry Sky or the Mona Lisa, but hearing that museums are reopening again will be uplifting news for art lovers.

Scroll through the gallery above to see post-lockdown pictures from museums around the world

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Liverpool 0

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ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Profile of Bitex UAE

Date of launch: November 2018

Founder: Monark Modi

Based: Business Bay, Dubai

Sector: Financial services

Size: Eight employees

Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings

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Engine: 5.0-litre V8

Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm

Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: L/100km

Price: Dh306,495

On sale: now

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed

Based: Muscat

Launch year: 2018

Number of employees: 40

Sector: Online food delivery

Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception 

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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