News
News from the Visionary!
AVAM Reopens Friday, September 25, 2020
After temporarily closing its doors in March in observance of government guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Visionary Art Museum enthusiastically reopens its doors to the public on Friday, September 25, 10am with new, modified days it is open: Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. The museum has implemented new, best practice protocols towards safeguarding public health that are informed by local, state and federal recommendations and guidelines, including mandatory advanced online purchase of a timed ticket. Click here for a list of the Visitor Guidelines. “Like the lyrics sung by the late and great Etta James, ‘At last!’ - six whole months away from our fantastic visitors and fans in our 25th silver anniversary year has been just too much to bear, let alone all the frantic calls for our Sideshow museum store to reopen—'We need our new eyeglasses - now,' to cries from educators and scientists saying, ‘Boy o boy, is AVAM’s Earth and climate-change show ever right on the mark!’ We have all sorely missed hearing all our visionary visitors’ oohs and ahhs," says Rebecca Hoffberger, museum founder & director.
Friday, July 25, 2020: Programs to Become Virtual for Remainder of 2020, While In-Person Visitors Remain Welcome Upon Reopening in Near Future
The American Visionary Art Museum will offer its public programs as online events, for the remainder of 2020 out of continuing concern for the health and optimal well-being of visitors and staff. The exceptions are the Barn Clearance on Saturday, August 8, which is a timed-ticket event with limited entry. The other is the beloved Bazaart Holiday Art Market, which is postponed until next November 2021. The seasonal fair of artists and craftspeople is traditionally held the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving and coincides with the anniversary of AVAM's opening in 1995. "We will sorely miss welcoming to our classroom and event spaces the bubbling creativity of young and young-at-heart participants to our programs. Though, we'll continue providing group visits, art workshops, and other such public programs online,” expresses museum founder and director Rebecca Hoffberger. “As for Bazaart, every season, makers and artists get to meet their admiring public to enjoy up-close, personal interactions that simply can’t be replicated any other way. I urge everyone to reach out directly to their favorite artists and artisans to support their works, when that support is so vitally deserved and needed.”
Museum Continues Working towards Reopening
In the meantime, AVAM remains temporarily closed while working on enhanced measures to welcome in-person visitors to its exhibitions and galleries when the museum reopens in the near future. In particular, AVAM's mega-exhibition "The Secret Life of Earth" has been extended to January 2021 to allow the public additional time to view it. "Our museum is a full, five-sensory experience. So, we’re excited to offer visitors that lively in-person opportunity once again soon," says Hoffberger.
Thursday, June 25, 2020: Flicks Cancelled for 2020, to Resume in 2021
The Hughes Family Flicks on the Hill movie series has been cancelled for summer 2020. The decision was made out of continuing concerns for the health and optimal wellbeing of our community and staff. “We are truly sorry to disappoint Flicks fans, who themselves always looked to me like art—so many dressed in costumes kindred to that night’s movie theme, gathered as one community to watch movies, sing along, and munch popcorn under the stars," says Rebecca Hoffberger, museum founder and director. The move complements Baltimore City's cancellation of its outdoor festivals this summer and supports the permit office as a partner in issuing the required permits for outdoor gatherings. The free movie series aim to resume next summer, in 2021. In the meantime, AVAM is pleased to offer FREE, virtual movie nights.
Monday, June 22, 2020: Baltimore City Moves to Phase 2 as AVAM Prepares to Reopen
While Baltimore City has entered Phase 2 of its reopening plan which allows museums to open, AVAM remains temporarily closed as it works to implement enhanced safety measures for the health of its visitors and staff. The museum looks forward to welcoming the public when it reopens in the near future.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020: AVAM Welcomes Visitors to Virtual Experiences
While the museum remains closed, it welcomes visitors IN with its online experiences here. They range from how-to videos of art projects using everyday household items, to a video library of the museum's illustrious Logan Visionary Conference speakers. Click here to explore AVAM's virtual experiences.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020: A Personal Message from Founder and Director Rebecca Hoffberger
Founder and director Rebecca Hoffberger shares a personal message to our dear visitors, supporters, friends, and AVAM family at this time. Read the message >>
Monday, March 23, 2020: AVAM and Museum Store Temporarily Close Until Further Notice
The museum and museum store will temporarily close to the public until further notice, following an executive order by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan that all non-essential businesses close to slow the spread of COVID-19. Limited museum staff will work on-site to maintain the buildings and collection. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. You can read full details on the closure here.
Monday, March 16, 2020: AVAM Extends Closures Amidst the Coronavirus Outbreak
Out of concern for the health and safety of our visitors and staff, the museum and museum store will temporarily close to the public through Tuesday, March 31, at least. At this time, there is no projected reopen date. Additionally, all group tours, public programs, and private rentals are cancelled through Sunday, May 10. If you registered for a program that has been cancelled, you will be refunded the full amount. If you have booked a private rental, please email rentals@avam.org to cancel or postpone your event. We apologize for any inconvenience. You can read full details on the closure here.
Friday, March 13, 2020: AVAM Closes Amidst the Coronavirus Outbreak
Out of concern for the health and safety of our visitors and staff, the museum and museum store will temporarily close to the public Saturday, March 14-Tuesday, March 31. Additionally, all group tours and public programs are cancelled through Sunday, April 12. If you registered for a program that has been cancelled, you will refunded the full amount. If your private rental involves 250 people or more, please email rentals@avam.org to cancel or postpone your event if it is currently scheduled for March or April. We apologize for any inconvenience. You can read full details on the closure here.
Friday, March 13, 2020: WJZ Recognizes AVAM's 25th Anniversary
On March, Friday 13, 2020, WJZ generously profiled founder and director Rebecca Hoffberger commemorating the museum's 25th anniversary. While our forever gratitude to co-founder LeRoy Hoffberger's generosity did not make the final cut, we expressed during the taping that he generously sold his pieces in his art collection, acted as a truly enthused AVAM co-Founder, and went on to provide the key and essential money for the first few years of AVAM’s operation. LeRoy and Rebecca also shared a great concern for the social injustice of juveniles in the US jail system and for that reason, the museum's glittering mosaic walls that were created as AVAM’s youth apprenticeship program, bear his good name. "I cannot ever adequately express my sincerest and deepest appreciation for all the good and personal help that LeRoy provided AVAM once he realized it really was going to happen that helped ensure its earliest success. His memory is eternally a much appreciated and indispensable blessing to AVAM and other worthy causes, but particularly in the founding history of our beloved museum," says Rebecca Hoffberger.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020: New York Times Museum Section Calls AVAM's Exhibit on Refugee Art "Arresting"
The New York Times hails our exhibition "Esther and the Dream of One Loving Human Family" as an "arresting" show in their special Museums section 2020 on the intersection of art and politics. You can read the full review here.