The Ulster Museum reopened to the public today following months of closure due to measures to stop the spread of Coronavirus.
The reopening comes during a week which has seen various museums and centres open up across Northern Ireland.
To mark its reopening, we went to the museum to take a look at how it has adapted to the challenge of operating during a pandemic.
Ulster Museum's General Manager, Ray Williams, told us that he was excited to be back and to be able to welcome customers once again.
He said: "We're delighted to be able to welcome customers back to the museum.
"The museum is still very much a free venue, although we're now encouraging people to book online.
"We've put an immense amount of planning in to get us to the stage of reopening. We have new one-way systems, control measures for social distancing, hand sanitising stations, so we're delighted to be welcoming people back."
The museum welcomed customers early this morning, with many families arriving as early as 10.30am.
In line with new guidance, the museum has also adopted a new colour-coded system which allows people to navigate the museum more easily, as well as ensuring that social distancing can remain in place even as the museum is at capacity.
The Ulster Museum is the first of National Museums NI’s four sites to reopen, with the Ulster Folk Museum and Ulster American Folk Park set to reopen on August 13 and the Ulster Transport Museum the following week on August 20.
Prior to reopening, the Ulster Museum was awarded the ‘We’re Good to Go’ mark. The UK-wide industry standard, managed locally by Tourism Northern Ireland, signifies how tourism and hospitality businesses have implemented the appropriate processes and health and safety measures, in line with government and industry guidelines, to ensure the safety of staff and visitors.
National Museums NI Chief Executive Kathryn Thomson says, “We’re delighted to have been awarded the ‘We’re Good to Go’ industry standard. It will serve to provide reassurance to our visitors that we're following the government and public health advice to welcome them back to our museum for a safe and enjoyable experience.”
To coincide with the reopening of the Ulster Museum, National Museums NI also announced its new Access for All strategy which has been designed to support those communities who have felt the effects of isolation during the Coronavirus pandemic more deeply than others.
The initiative will include dedicated booking slots earmarked for communities including those of older people, those with hearing loss, sight loss, families and adults with special educational needs, and those who have been socially prescribed.
Ms Thomson says the priority in reopening is to ensure the new measures can facilitate visitors from all communities.
“To assure inclusion of all communities when reopening we have actioned our Access for All strategy. We are delighted to be working in partnership with several organisations representing communities more acutely affected by the impact of isolation, to design accessible, welcoming, safe experiences and spaces for all.”
To deliver the programme, National Museums NI has engaged with partners from organisations including Age NI, Autism NI, RNIB, Guide Dogs NI, Spring Social Prescribing, Healthy Living Centre Alliance and the NOW Group.
Supported by the programme partners and developed in conjunction with their service users, National Museums NI is currently exploring ways to engage these communities through facilitated workshops, remote sessions to bring the museum experience directly to those yet unable to visit, and offering opportunities for safe tactile engagement during visits for members of the community with sensory needs.
A new booking system has been launched and all visitors are asked to book a free time slot to visit the Ulster Museum.
The Ulster Museum will reopen with its normal hours for six days a week while the other sites will open four days weekly.
For more information on visiting and to book a visit, visit NMNI.com.
