Richmond, Virginia — The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) announced special hours of operation for the winter holidays. The museum will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve this Thursday, December 24; Christmas Day on Friday, December 25; New Year’s Eve on Thursday, December 31 and New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1.
“VMFA is open daily and we hope to be a place of joy, beauty, inspiration and respite for visitors during the holiday season,” said Alex Nyerges, VMFA’s Director and CEO. “We are committed to providing a comfortable, safe and artful experience.”
The blockbuster exhibition Treasures of Ancient Egypt: Sunken Cities is in its final weeks. The magnificent works of ancient art will return to Egypt after the exhibition closes on January 18, 2021. Visitors are encouraged to make online reservations to see Sunken Cities as tickets are timed to maintain safe physical distancing between viewers and limited capacity within the galleries. Several free exhibitions are also available for viewing, as well as VMFA’s permanent collections of art. The complete exhibition schedule can be found at www.VMFA.museum.
Following the guidance of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the museum has put safeguards in place to help ensure the health and well-being of its visitors, staff and volunteers. Wearing face coverings is required inside the museum and outside on the museum’s campus. Disposable masks are provided to those who do not bring their own. Physical distancing must be practiced while inside the museum and outside on VMFA’s grounds. The museum’s safety protocols are detailed on the museum’s website at www.VMFA.museum/covid-19.
About the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia, is one of the largest comprehensive art museums in the United States. VMFA, which opened in 1936, is a state agency and privately endowed educational institution. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art, and to encourage the study of the arts. Through the Office of Statewide Partnerships program, the museum offers curated exhibitions, arts-related audiovisual programs, symposia, lectures, conferences, and workshops by visual and performing artists. In addition to presenting a wide array of special exhibitions, the museum provides visitors with the opportunity to experience a global collection of art that spans more than 6,000 years. VMFA’s permanent holdings encompass nearly 50,000 artworks, including the largest public collection of Fabergé outside of Russia, the finest collection of Art Nouveau outside of Paris, and one of the nation’s finest collections of American art. VMFA is also home to important collections of Chinese art, English silver, French Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, British sporting, and modern and contemporary art, as well as renowned South Asian, Himalayan and African art. In May 2010, VMFA opened its doors to the public after a transformative expansion, the largest in its history.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is the only art museum in the United States typically open 365 days a year with free general admission. For additional information, telephone 804.340.1400 or visit www.VMFA.museum.
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Media Contacts
Jan Hatchette | 804.204.2721 | jan.hatchette@VMFA.museum
Amy Peck | 804.773.1791| amy.peck@VMFA.museum
Ume Farwa | 804.204.2702 | ume.farwa@VMFA.museum
200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond, VA 23220