Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Announces February 5 Reopening Following Temporary Citywide Museum Closures in Response to COVID-19

BOSTON, MA (February 1, 2021) – The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (ISGM) will reopen to the public on Friday, February 5, 2021, following a seven-week closure that began December 16, 2020. The Museum’s reopening coincides with Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s most recent announcement that Boston will return to Step One, Phase Three of the Reopening Massachusetts plan. Visitors will once again be able to view Shen Wei: Painting in Motion, as well as a new Courtyard display of tropical and subtropical plants.

“The Gardner Museum offers the community a much-needed respite during these stressful times. In addition to the Palace’s galleries, we have two extraordinary offerings: the critically-acclaimed Shen Wei exhibition and our recently-installed tropical Courtyard,” said Peggy Fogelman, Norma Jean Calderwood Director. “We are pleased to once again welcome visitors to explore the many special spaces in our museum, as we continue to implement safety protocols designed to protect visitors and staff.”

Drawing upon both Chinese and western culture, Shen Wei: Painting in Motion presents an immersive gallery experience that explores the artist’s multi-disciplinary artistic practice encompassing painting, drawing, filmmaking, and dance. The new Courtyard installation will premiere a display of dozens of bright, tropical Cymbidium and Lady Slipper orchids alongside lush calla lilies, flowering jasmine, eucalyptus and date palms. In this first Courtyard display of 2021, the Gardner horticulture team is carefully transporting more than 300 potted plants from its greenhouses to the museum over a few day period (while avoiding this week’s freezing temperatures). Additionally, two guided meditations have been specially created by India Clark of the Wayfinder Institute to encourage visitors to find calm in both the Shen Wei exhibition and Courtyard spaces.

To ensure a safe, enjoyable experience, the Museum will continue implementing strict safety protocols following state and local guidelines and requests that all visitors adhere to these policies as they plan their visit. Safety policies include:

• The Museum will be operating at a 25% visitor capacity (under state guidelines).
• Entry to the Museum will be timed, with all members and visitors required to reserve or purchase tickets in advance. Tickets will be made available for specific entry times between 11 am – 3:30 pm Monday through Friday, and 10 am – 3:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday, The Museum requests that visitors arrive no more than five minutes ahead of their designated time slot.
• As mandated by the City of Boston, all Museum staff and visitors (age five and older) are required to wear a mask or cloth face covering for the duration of their time in the Museum.
• Inside the Museum, while in line for entry, visitors must observe six feet of physical distance between themselves or their party, and others, including Museum employees.
• Wipes and hand sanitizer will be available throughout many areas of the Museum.

For full information on new safety policies, how to plan a visit, and to purchase tickets, all are asked to visit isgm.org/welcome.

The Tropical Courtyard will be on display until mid-February.

Shen Wei Painting in Motion remains on view through June 20. Information on virtual and in-person programming can be found online.

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