How The Government Shutdown Affects Museums
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Source: The Guardian
Outside the National Archives in Washington, a sign says "Closed." "We're sorry," it reads. "Due to the shutdown of the federal government, the facility is closed." This museum is not alone; government-funded Smithsonian museums in New York and Washington, as well as the National Zoo, closed due to a partial government shutdown, which kicked off on 22 December over border security issues, forcing thousands of federal workers to work without pay or take unpaid time off.
"We can't reopen until we have a federal budget, so it all depends on a call from the White House," said Linda St Thomas, the chief spokesperson of the Smithsonian Institution. "When we get federal funding, we will reopen immediately."
All 19 museums, including the National History Museum, the African Art Museum and the Portrait Gallery, are losing out on a great number of visitors.
They're accustomed to drawing 1 million visitors a month, according to St Thomas. "We go by month, it depends on the weather," she said. "I think it's roughly 1 million visitors for all 19 museums for the month of January." All special events and programs, including lectures and films scheduled at the museums have been postponed until after the shutdown or are cancelled.
The highly coveted exhibits - including the Oprah Winfrey retrospective at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the presidential portrait of Barack Obama at the National Portrait Gallery - will resume after funding is restored.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/jan/05/how-the-government-shutdown-affects-museums
The US Botanic Garden is still OPEN daily, funded for the fiscal year. Private DC museums still OPEN- the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Phillips Collection, & the Newseum journalism center. *Xmas & Jan.- the 2nd busiest time after summer for DC tourism.
Culture fans are disappointed, "This administration has made it clear through that the arts & cultural education are of little value or importance," said LA artist Whitney Bell. "Hundreds of thousands of jobs furloughed & millions of Americans left without access to our most important cultural institutions, historic landmarks & influential art, and for what?" "A xenophobic wall that flies in the face of the melting-pot ideology this country was built on."
CLOSED. The National Zoo (animals taken care of by staff).
CLOSED. The Smithsonian National Museum Of African American History & Culture. *New*
CLOSED. The National Archives. (Charters of Freedom: Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, US Constitution).
OPEN. US Botanic Garden, on the National Mall near the US Capitol. Wonderful exhibits & displays, year round.
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