Why museums are still closed while other businesses have reopened in California

The Museum of African American Art in Baldwin Hills hosted an exhibit called “No Crystal Stair: The Photography of John Simmons, ASC” when they had to shut down in March 2020.

The Museum of African American Art in Baldwin Hills hosted an exhibit called “No Crystal Stair: The Photography of John Simmons, ASC” when they had to shut down in March 2020. Photo by John Simmons, ASC.

Indoor museums are still closed — while malls, tattoo shops, hair and nail salons have been open since Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted parts of the state’s stay-at-home order last month. There’s now an odd scenario: The gift shop is open at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), but the museum itself is not.

KCRW talks about the pandemic’s impact on museums with the executive directors of the Museum of African American Art in Baldwin Hills and the Wende Museum in Culver City, plus a New York Times culture reporter.

From this Episode:

Credits

Host:

Madeleine Brand

Producers:

Sarah Sweeney, Angie Perrin, Michell Eloy, Amy Ta, Rosalie Atkinson, Brian Hardzinski, Bennett Purser