The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens today announced its second phase of
reopening, which restores community access to the Museum’s indoor galleries and
exhibitions in a limited capacity, will begin on Tuesday, July 21, 2020.
This announcement follows the safe and successful first phase of reopening that
began on June 20 with the historic riverfront gardens, light bites and beverage
service through the Cummer Café and two pop-up locations of the Museum Shop.
The Museum will continue to limit daily capacity across the campus for the
foreseeable future.
“Since the Museum closed to the public in March, we have been diligently
working toward the day when we could safely welcome the community back to our
galleries to find comfort, inspiration and respite during this challenging
time,” said Interim Director and Chief Advancement Officer, Kerrie
Slattery. “We are grateful to be able to open our doors so that everyone can
once again experience art, culture and connection, in a safe and socially
distanced setting.”
To celebrate the reopening of the galleries and honor Northeast Florida’s
military community, VyStar Credit Union will sponsor free admission for active
duty service members and their families on July 25 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and July
26 (12 to 4 p.m.).
"VyStar Credit Union has a deep appreciation for our military, and we
are proud to partner with the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens to sponsor
free admission for service members and their families," said Brian
Wolfburg, President/CEO of VyStar Credit Union. "We hope this provides
a meaningful experience that celebrates the rich art and culture found in our
community."
Members and guests are required to reserve a timed ticket in advance of their
visit at cummermuseum.org/admission. Tickets are available in two-hour time
increments, with dates and times for the upcoming week updated every Monday.
The Museum has implemented many safety and sanitation measures, including hand
sanitizer stations throughout the campus, plexiglass guards for the front desk
area and expanded daily cleaning and sanitation policies for all common areas
and surfaces according to the Centers for Disease Control and Occupational
Safety and Health Administration guidelines. All galleries now feature routes
to direct the flow of movement and support social distancing. Transitioning to
a timed ticket model provides additional time for cleaning and disinfecting
throughout the campus, including high-touch surfaces. Museum staff, members and
guests are required to wear masks.
The Cummer Café will fully reopen on August 1. Art Connections, the Museum’s
interactive education center, will remain temporarily closed for remodeling.
For information about the Museum’s permanent collection, internally curated
gallery spaces and special exhibitions, visit cummermuseum.org/visit/art. The
Museum’s digital gallery experiences, virtual tours and online resources remain
available to the community at www.cummermuseum.org/engage.
“The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens” and “Connecting Thru Music” (CTM) have
partnered to provide a unique learning opportunity for children with special
needs enrolled in Duval County Public Schools’ Extended School Year (ESY)
program: a three-week virtual series, “Live from the Cummer: Connecting Art and
Music.” Music therapists from CTM’s partner, First Coast Music Therapy, along
with Cummer Museum educators, will host two 30-minute classes, twice
weekly. During each class, these
students and their families have the opportunity to explore the Museum’s
artwork and galleries through lively and fun music interventions.
The virtual explorations, which launched on July 7, are presented live through
Microsoft Teams at 11 a.m. and again at 11:30 a.m. for two different groups of
ESY students, based on their ages and abilities. Each session includes a brief
curated art tour (approximately five minutes) led by a Museum educator and
information about the themes presented in the museum gallery. The music
therapists engage the ESY students for approximately 20 minutes with songs connected
to the theme and artwork. Additionally, these students receive art-making ideas
that their families can work on together at home.
“We are focused on the need for a flexible and creative approach so that the
children will have this unique opportunity to learn during these challenging
times,” said Karen Demuth, Executive Director of CTM. “The added benefit
of their parents being present because it is virtual adds a positive experience
and promotes learning, bonding and fun.”
For many families, the summer break is a critical time to maintain the gains
students have realized during the school year. “During these uncertain and
stressful times, it’s more important than ever for the Cummer Museum to support
the diverse needs of our local community,” said Kim Kuta Dring, Director of
Education for the Cummer Museum. “This partnership provides students with
differing abilities and their families with access to high quality artworks and
experiences that promote self-expression, wellness and family stability – all
important aspects of a child’s healthy growth and development.”
About the Cummer
Museum of Art & Gardens: For almost 60 years, the Cummer
Museum of Art & Gardens has been committed to engaging and inspiring
through the arts, gardens, and education. A permanent collection of more than
5,000 objects and historic gardens on a riverfront campus offers nearly 150,000
annual visitors a truly unique experience on the First Coast. Nationally
recognized education programs serve adults and children of all abilities. For
further information, including hours, visit The Cummer Museum.
About Connecting
Thru Music: Connecting Thru Music is a 501c3 that partners with
First Coast Music Therapy to provide music therapy with board certified music
therapists and related music services which enhance the cognitive, social,
emotional, physical, development growth of the children with special needs
throughout Duval County and the Northeast Region of Florida. For more
information, visit connectingthrumusic.com.
The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre welcomes “Bowing Oaks” as its
newest Corporate Partner.
Owner of Bowing Oaks, Jim Efstathion, has a deep connection to the arts in
North Florida, having moved to Jacksonville over 50 years ago to begin working
with Ted Johnson and the Alhambra Dinner Theatre. During his years in Jacksonville, Efstathion
and his family have become familiar and welcome faces at the Florida Theatre. “Each Christmas season for over a decade,
The Florida Theatre became our second home as our daughters and their friends
rehearsed and performed in the Nutcracker. Music, dancing and celebration have
always been a part of our family’s DNA,” said Efstathion.
It was Jim Efstathion’s family that led him to create what has now become
Bowing Oaks. “Seven years ago, my
wife Cheryl came up with an idea. When
most people were retiring, we designed and built a venue in a natural setting
for one of our daughters to have her wedding. Bowing Oaks was born,” said
Efstathion. “Our booking manager
Heather Canada Randall remarked, ‘If you build it, they will come.’ And boy did they. With over 450 events held to date, Bowing Oaks
is considered one of the premier wedding and events venues in north Florida. In addition to weddings, Bowing Oaks is home
to 1 Vibe Dance, an internationally acclaimed dance studio with thousands of
participants attending classes over the last four years.”
“I know Jim has a long history of involvement in the arts and theatre as a
practitioner and also as a supporter. He
knows the importance of the arts to business and business to the arts,”
said Florida Theatre President, Numa Saisselin. “The Florida Theatre earns 85% of its
annual budget from its business activities, and support from the business
community, like our new Corporate Partner Bowing Oaks, helps to close that
small budget gap every year and keep the Florida Theatre and its programs something
special for our community.”
The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit
Union. For a complete list of upcoming
events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre's official web site
floridatheatre.com.
About Bowing Oaks:
Located on five acres in the Bayard area of south Jacksonville, Bowing Oaks is
the city’s premier wedding and event venue, with just the right blend of rustic
elegance and modern convenience. Bowing
Oaks’s 3,200 square foot ballroom can accommodate up to 200 guests with an
unparalleled sense of rustic elegance. The
venue is fully handicapped-accessible, has two spacious lounge/dressing areas
for wedding parties, and a large catering kitchen. Bowing Oaks also has two unique outdoor
ceremony sites, and numerous locations to take amazing photos.
