Good news for Kalamazooans with inquisitive minds. After being closed to the public for almost a year, since last March, the Kalamazoo Valley Museum began slowly reopening to the general public this week.

On Tuesday, the KVM began what they termed a "first soft opening phase", where guests are required to pre-register for a pre-determined visitation date and time: with those time slots being Tuesdays and Thursdays, for 90-minute visits, limited to 10 guests (from 10-11:30 am). To sign up, go to the Museum website at kalamazoomuseum.org. Good news for the museum is that some of these times slots are already sold out.

"Although much of the Museum will be closed to visitors during this phase of the reopening, visitors will have access to new “read and see” experiences. A “one way” pathway exploring first floor core exhibits including the extended run of “Filling the Gap: The Art of Murphy Darden” and 'Science on Sphere.' The second floor history exhibit, 'Kalamazoo Direct to You,' has been modified with looping-video content, touchless buttons to launch some of the interactives and new QR code audio tours for many sections of the gallery. - Kalamazoo Valley Museum release

One of the new things to look for when you head the the museum is a new “sound sculpture” by artist Beth Bradfish that allows guests to manipulate wire-meshed screens and sounds for an "auditory experience which blends arts and sciences". That said, other areas of the Museum are still closed while new safety protocols are being implemented.

The museum says, since March of 2020, staff has been working remotely "providing innovative online programs including Star Talks, a museum interpretation podcast, a 360-degree virtual tour and exploration of the online collections database".

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