Dear Friends of the Frist,
It's been great to see many of you at the Frist since June, when we reopened our doors. When we closed in March to help curb the spread of COVID-19, we began researching how to provide the safest possible environment for visitors and staff while maintaining a comfortable and enjoyable museum experience. Our spacious galleries allow ample room for social distancing, and a complete list of safety measures can be found on our website.
In the wider community, however, the number of COVID-19 cases and rates of infection are increasing. These facts compound the ongoing impact of the pandemic on the Frist Art Museum. Our top priority is to ensure your safety. We are assiduously diligent in following all recommended protocols and requiring all guests to do the same.
While we remain optimistic, attendance and earned revenue currently languish. Likewise, donated revenue has dwindled. We are thus temporarily reducing our hours. Beginning on January 2, 2021, we will be open Thursdays through Sundays-the days most popular among our guests. Service in the caf? will be suspended, but vending machines and seating will remain available. The gift shop will be open, and Martin ArtQuest accessible on a timed entry basis.
In the meantime, throughout the holiday season (from now until December 31), the Frist will remain open seven days a week. We are ready to welcome you and your families to our galleries, Martin ArtQuest (Sundays-Tuesdays), and the gift shop, which is full of wonderful holiday options. Reservations, which are required for both the galleries and MAQ, can be made at FristArtMuseum.org/tickets. The present reduction in downtown traffic means that parking is readily available in our visitor lot.
As always, you will find our galleries full of magnificent art. Now on view:
- Rina Banerjee: Make Me a Summary of the World
- Albrecht D?rer: The Age of Reformation and Renaissance
- Terry Adkins: Our Sons and Daughters Ever on the Altar
- We Count: First-Time Voters
Be sure to consult FristArtMuseum.org before your visit for the most up-to-date information-and, while you're there, enjoy our robust array of online programs, including Frist at Home tours (with new sessions streamed weekly), Storytime (in English, Spanish, and ASL), panel discussions, art history classes, curator's tours, digital exhibitions (such as 2020 Young Tennessee Artists), and other offerings.
Thank you to all who have continued to support the Frist Art Museum with your memberships and donations during this challenging period. Your generosity is appreciated more than you know. While we must operate on a temporarily modified schedule at the start of the new year, we look forward to restoring our hours as circumstances permit, and our commitment to our communities-to education, equity, and diversity, and to the healing, nurturing, and inspiring power of art-is unwavering.
Please stay safe.