CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

Plans are being put together

Esplanade, Medalta won’t open this week

May 12, 2020 | 1:35 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Museums and art galleries are allowed to open on May 14, but Medicine Hat’s two most popular will wait a little longer.

Officials at the Esplanade and Medalta tell CHAT News that they want to open as soon as possible but that it must be done the right way.

“We’re putting together a plan and at the forefront of that plan is the safety of our staff, visitors and volunteers,” said Aaron Nelson, manager of community connection and support for the City of Medicine Hat.

He said making sure it’s a quality experience for visitors to return to is also important.

“On March 16 when everything stopped, everything stopped. We took down exhibitions and some stuff got shipped out. We’re just planning on putting everything back together right now and hoping to move forward as soon as it’s viable.

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The Esplanade theatre will remain closed until at least September, Nelson adds. He said some of the spring and summer shows cancelled due to the pandemic will be rescheduled but others won’t simply due to the nature of the concert business.

Jessica Knodel, Medalta’s marketing and communications coordinator, said they’re waiting for more guidance from the province with regards to capacity restrictions and certain programs. Medalta won’t open in May and will revisit the situation at the end of the month.

“A lot our programming involves larger groups of children or having artists living in our artists’ lodge, so there are things that are more specific than just opening the museum that we have to consider,” she said.

Medalta has put a virtual museum tour online so that people can get a feel for the building before visiting in person.

The Esplanade and Medalta could be eligible for assistance through the Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations announced by the federal government on May 8. Nelson and Knodel say they’re looking at the fund and are waiting for more details.