Palmer Museum Set to Reopen in February

After being closed throughout most of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State plans to reopen next month, with some new procedures in place.

The museum on Curtin Road will reopen on Feb. 10 with a new timed ticketing system and updated health protocols.

“We are thrilled to finally reopen our doors to the public and to do so by placing the welfare and safety of our visitors as our top priority,” Erin M. Coe, director of the Palmer Museum of Art, said in a statement. “Even with the COVID-19 restrictions in place, we are confident visitors will enjoy a self-guided tour of our permanent collection and special exhibitions.”

Visitors will need to reserve a free, timed-entry ticket at palmermuseum.psu.edu/ prior to arriving. Once inside the museum, they will be assisted by visitor services staff, who will answer questions and help them make the most of their time. Visits will be one hour.

Building capacity will be limited to 30 people. Two reservation slots will be available for up to 15 visitors each hour for an hour-long stay in the galleries. Check-in will be contactless, with museum-goers tapping their phones on the pedestal at the Visitor Services desk before heading to to the galleries or the museum store.

Those without reservations will be required to check in at the front desk and request and timed-entry ticket.

Visitors must follow Penn State and Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 guidelines, including wearing masks and maintaining 6 feet distance from other parties. They also will be encouraged to sanitize their hands at stations throughout the museum. Staff will sanitize high-touch common areas throughout the day.

The museum will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. The last ticket will be processed at 4:15 p.m.

A full slate of virtual programs and events for all ages also will be offered throughout the spring.

During its closure in the fall, the Palmer Museum undertook a rehousing project for a portion of its works, moving them to a larger, renovated storage facility to accommodate the continued growth in the permanent collection.

The closure also allowed for renovation and repair work after a sprinkler pipe leak in the summer, which did not damage any art.

Palmer staff focused throughout the fall on a major digitization project for the museum’s permanent collection, photographing works in preparation for the launch of a new online searchable collection database.

For upcoming exhibitions, online events and updates on the reopening, visit palmermuseum.psu.edu.