Illinois State Museum's Lockport Gallery to reopen Aug. 19

After a temporary closure due to COVID-19, the Illinois State Museum (ISM) today announced it will reopen its Lockport Gallery facility in Lockport at 10 a.m. Aug. 19.

All Illinois State Museum branches are now open with free admission and reduced hours.

During this initial reopening phase, the Lockport Gallery will operate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Advanced registration for entry is strongly encouraged.

Visitors can access registration instructions on the ISM website at illinoisstatemuseum.org. Groups are limited to 10 persons and must register in advance to visit the gallery.

The reopening of the Lockport Gallery will give many visitors the first opportunity to view its new art exhibition, Surplus Scrap. It opened March 4, almost two weeks before the temporary closure of the gallery March 14 due to the pandemic.

The exhibition will remain on view through Oct. 10, 2020.

"We are pleased to welcome the public back to Lockport to view Surplus Scrap," ISM Lockport director John Lustig said in a news release from ISM. "The exhibition speaks directly to issues of social justice, prison reform, and environmental stewardship.

"The material used in the creation of the art was destined for the trash. The 23 participating artists have created an experience that honors the past while laying the groundwork for a new future."

Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the Lockport Gallery’s exhibits with enhanced health and safety measures in place.

Protocols will include health screenings before entry, face coverings required for everyone over the age of 2, and social distancing.

Regularly scheduled cleaning and sanitization of all high-touch surfaces will occur throughout the day. In-person programming is suspended.

Exhibits with interactive components have been either modified or closed temporarily.