Reopening the Museum – Update …
LATEST INFORMATION
Please note that the information in this blog has been superseded and is now out of date. The latest information on the COVID situation and the reopening of the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum can be found by clicking on the button below.
The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum has secured a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to aid in reopening expenses which means that we can now commence the work necessary to render us “COVID secure”.
The first step is to plan out all of the activities that we need to complete, according to the latest guidelines from the National Museums Directors Council (these are updated regularly).
Initially, we will open on one day per week, and aim to increase this to two days fairly soon thereafter provided that our procedures work and that we have sufficient volunteers in place to cover the additional tasks that need doing in this strange new world.
At least initially there will be changes to the look and feel of the museum:
- We are required to have a maximum number on site that can support social distancing. Therefore it is possible that at peak times the museum might become full and we may have to turn people away.
- The NAAFI will not reopen at the same time as the rest of the museum, snacks, ice creams and cold drinks will be available from the shop though.
- The rooms behind the shop are too small to allow social distancing and as such will not be reopened until requirements around this have finished.
- Each building will have a limit on the number of people allowed in at any time, and they will all be manned. This includes the main hangar complex, but that has a capacity of over 90.
- Other outer buildings, Air Sea Rescue, Bomber Command, Royal Observer Corps and 446 Bomb Group, will be open by rotation during the day, dependant on the number of available volunteers.
- We have a new exhibit to see, the Phantom Aircraft is currently being re-assembled and will be on view near the inner gate.
- No hands-on exhibits are allowed, these will be removed or covered. This includes access to aircraft and trying on uniforms and other items.
We don’t yet have a definite date to reopen. The first open day will be for members only to test our procedures etc. If you would like to become a member and help in this process or just to simply support us, please follow the link to the Membership page on our main website for more information.
Watch this blog space and our Facebook page and Twitter feed for details of our first membership date and then our first public date.
If you would like to contribute towards our reopening costs please click on the button below to follow the link.
Author:: Steve Bell
