Buxton Museum and Art Gallery reopening is 'good to go'

Visitors are to be welcomed back to Buxton Museum and Art Gallery from this week, following the introduction of new safety measures to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Derbyshire County Council's only museum and art gallery in Terrace Road will re-open at 10am on Tuesday (8 September). 

Visitors are being reassured that as well as meeting all the guidelines, the museum and art gallery has also achieved a Visit England 'Good to Go' award - which is granted to attractions, businesses and destinations as an industry standard to show they are adhering to all the necessary measures.

Entry to the museum and art gallery remains free, but a major change is that people wanting to visit must pre-book tickets, which they can do online by going to www.derbyshire.gov.uk/buxtonmuseum. 

Cllr Barry Lewis, DCC Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture and Tourism, said: "We're really pleased we’re now in a position to re-open the Buxton Museum and Art Gallery as we know how much people value it and all it has to offer.

"The safety of our customers and staff remains our top priority, and a range of new measures will be in place to protect everyone and to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"The museum and art gallery team have worked incredibly hard while it has been closed, ensuring more resources are available online and entertaining people virtually with a number of initiatives.

"However, it’s really important that people can actually visit in person and see for themselves what is on offer, which makes this re-opening a really positive step for local people and the wider community." 

The museum will be open from Tuesday to Friday with half hourly timed slots available for small groups of up to six people, between 10am and noon and 2pm to 3pm. This allows visitors about an hour to enjoy the galleries while still being able to socially distance from each other.

Visitors are expected to wear face coverings unless they are in an exempt group, and museum and art gallery staff will be managing social distancing and providing hand sanitiser at several points.

For more details about what to expect when visiting, people can go the website (as above) where all the changes are outlined in detail.

Visitors will still be able to see the popular displays such as the Wonders of the Peak and Between Two Worlds, an exhibition of artworks reflecting the consequences of the 20th century’s world wars and colonialism on people’s individual lives and opportunities.

Other displays are new to the museum and art gallery, including a new painting by local artist Martin Olsson called Buxton 2020, made for the museum during lockdown, with support from the Arts Council England Emergency Response Fund.

People will also be able to see the newly acquired sketchbook by Mary Twopenny, which includes possibly the only known view of the Orphanage House at Litton Mill, already derelict when the artist visited in 1828.

Also on display is Derbyshire photographer Nick Lockett’s landscape images, inspired by the collections of hoards that the museum looks after.

The council say the new way of operating will be constantly under review by staff, and it is hoped that the number of available sessions will be increased in future, along with the re-opening of the shop which is currently closed.

It is also hoped that Saturday openings will be able to re-start shortly. Any changes will be updated on the website at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/buxtonmuseum. 

For further information, contact Derbyshire County Council museums manager Ros Westwood by emailing buxton.museum@derbyshire.gov.uk