Archives, libraries, museums and related arts and history exhibition venues open their doors to individual visitors

At its meeting on 1 June, the government decided* to open the premises of libraries, museums and related arts and history exhibition venues – storage facilities and exhibitions of museum objects, art galleries, cultural centres, memorial sites, archives and other cultural venues – to individual visitors. To gradually resume the operation of these cultural venues from 2 June, the Ministry of Culture (MoC) has developed and published guidelines for epidemiologically safe operations; cultural venues will open their doors to individual visitors as soon as they are ready to comply with the guidelines.

“The Ministry of Culture’s strategy in introducing the easing of restrictions has been responsible – it is essential to implement pilot projects to ensure that visits to cultural venues are safe and comply with safety protocols. The museum sector was the first to implement such a pilot project and was exceptionally well prepared to open museums as early as 1 June. I would like to thank the sector for its responsible approach,” emphasises Minister of Culture Nauris Puntulis.

Libraries, museums and related arts and history exhibition venues will only be able to receive visitors individually – one person or people living in the same household – and a one-way flow of visitors must be ensured. Libraries and archives will also be able to resume serving visitors in reading rooms; libraries that have outdoor reading rooms may continue to do so in the open air.

All visitors and employees physically present at these cultural venues must continue to maintain a mutual distance of 2 metres; the only exception is for people living in the same household.

In the premises of libraries, museums and other cultural venues, 25 square metres of public space must be provided per visitor, while 10 square metres must be provided outdoors.

Both visitors and employees of libraries, museums and related cultural venues must wear face coverings over their mouths and noses indoors. In addition, staff must ensure regular ventilation of the premises, as well as regular disinfection of surfaces, shared technical devices and surfaces in the premises. Books returned by library users are placed in “quarantine” in a separate room for 72 hours.

Hand sanitiser must also be placed in locations that are clearly visible and easily accessible to visitors.

It has also been stipulated that visitors should register in advance and purchase tickets remotely, where this is available. Online services and consultations will also continue to be provided.

The opening of museums, storage facilities and exhibitions of museum objects, art galleries, cultural centres, memorial sites and other cultural venues to individual visitors is also supported by the Latvian Museum Council and the Latvian Museums Association, with which the MoC’s guidelines for epidemiologically safe operations have also been coordinated.