It is no secret that the Brooklyn Museum’s public hours have been inconvenient to many of our visitors. From the frustrated tourist arriving on a weekday at 4:30pm only to be told, “Galleries will begin clearing in 15 minutes,” – to our neighbors exiting the Brooklyn Museum/Eastern Parkway subway stop on their way home from work—a 5:00pm closing time represented a serious obstacle to visitation.
Back in March, I initiated an online discussion of the issues and asked for feedback. We heard from many of our friends, and the responses we received helped drive our decision-making. As we performed a delicate balancing act of providing more evening hours without significantly increasing costs, we kept these visitor preferences in mind:
- “Keep the weekend morning hours; that’s a quiet, less crowded time that combines well with a brunch.”
- “Stay open on Thursdays or Fridays at least until 9.”
- “Provide additional late night opportunities to see special exhibitions.”
I’m thrilled that the new public hours announced today meet these goals:
- Wednesdays 11-6
- Thursdays and Fridays 11-10
- Saturdays and Sundays 11-6
We look forward to welcoming everyone as we implement the new schedule on Wednesday, October 6, 2010. For more information, please read our press release (pdf).
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Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum
This just makes my day!
Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Super excited about the new hours.
Great New Hours, but shouldn’t Saturdays also remain open until 10 PM ? The Metropolitan is open until 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays and it is always packed with visitors.
We’re pleased to receive such positive feedback. We’ve held a series of discussion groups with visitors during the past week, and participants expressed excitement over the opportunity to visit the Museum on Thursday and Friday evenings. These evenings are seen as a great complement to the late night Saturdays (till 11pm) we offer once a month, during our Target First Saturdays.
What horrible news for school groups!!!! I worked in the Brooklyn Museum’s education department for nearly 10 years (as a teaching artist and member of the school programs team) and i know that it is a scheduling nightmare for schools to begin their visits at this time. I am disgusted that considering brunch schedules took precedence over the needs of public schools, who struggle to schedule visits already – due to the fact that the museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
I agree that this might help neighbors who work. I hope you are providing QUALITY educational programs during these extended hours for community families that might take advantage of these hours. Sadly I doubt you will given the perpetual economic crisis the museum faces (even in the best of times)
Also let’s be clear and honest: you are not EXTENDING hours- you are shifting them.
I have been a strong supporter on all of the “populist” decisions that the museum has made and been criticized for (from Star Wars on), but this is too much. What’s worse is that you are trying to mask this descision as an attempt to expand access to the museum-which cant be the case if you are making school visits all but impossible to schedule.
For a long time Brooklyn had the most innovative and inclusive educational programs in the country. More importantly,the museum had the deepest commitment to the diverse student visitors of New York City. Those days are clearly over.
With deep regrets,
Andrew Christman
I am
The issues that Andrew raises are very real
indeed. The passion and concern for NYC school
groups is shared by Brooklyn museum staff. In
every discussion conducted, it was clear to all of us
that service to school groups could not be
reduced. So although the public hours will begin at
11 am, educator-led tours will still begin at 10 am.
Security, Visitor Services and Education staff
are preparing to welcome the students they have
always welcomed.
We have heard from teachers that the evening
hours will give them more time for preview visits
before class trips. Parents and students have
told us that it will be more convenient to visit after
school. So we are confident that the new hours
will provide greater support to schools, not
less.
Alisa,
Thank you for clarifying your policy concerning school groups. I am very encouraged by the efforts you have taken to include school students and apologize for jumping to conclusions.
I suggest that the policy regarding school visits made clear in the announcement I read.
Alisa, I am sure that you and the museum have been thorough in surveys and focus group discussions. I will remain hopeful that the discussions and feedback will serve to DEFINE new museum policy rather than justify tough decisions that have been pre-ordained by the board and museum leadership. Which is often the case with museums and other institutions around the world.
I suggest that the school visit policy is made clear in the announcement I read.
Thank you for your fast response to my concerns.
As always, I wish my favorite museum the best in tough times.
For more information about the school visit policy, please read the press release announcing the new schedule. The link is provided in my August 19 post. The 10am-11am time period is reserved for school groups having educator-led tours. That policy is not changing under the new schedule.
Hi. I no longer live in NYC, where I grew up and lived for much of my young(er) adult life, but do visit a lot. This will be great for locals as well as tourists who have to pack so much in during their visit.
As a teacher, I agree that maintaining the 10 AM opening for schools is vital, so well done on figuring that out, as well.
I hope you use these extended hours as a marketing tool. Perhaps subway ads? “Great art late? It’s a date!”?
Maybe you will set a trend for other cultural institutions!
Kudos!
Thanks, Norah! We do plan to promote the new hours in marketing and communication materials. So stay tuned — and let us know if you notice the word getting out!
I have to say as a mom who counts the museum among a select few rainy day activities in Brooklyn, I am disappointed in the 11 am open time 3 days a week. I am usually looking for something to do at 8 am! I realize that’s not possible, but neither is holding out until 11.
Nicole, we regret that the later public opening has limited your rainy weekday morning options. We performed a delicate “balancing act” in determining the new schedule. The new hours allow us to come closer to meeting the needs of our diverse audiences; but clearly, visitors like you who prefer an earlier morning visit during the week are impacted. Thanks for the feedback, and we do hope that you and your family will still be able to visit us at a new time that works for you.
Andrew Christman is a long-winded dunce who has taken it upon himself to discuss the Brooklyn Museum’s operating schedule in an insulting public manner; accomplishing nothing. He imbues his comment with the fantasy of authority that he does not possess. This is not a forum for you Andrew, the world does not revolve around you either.
Keep it all in perspective. Thank you.
The new hours are wonderful.
Victor, your support of our new schedule is appreciated — and we hope you’ll take advantage of the evening hours. Having worked with Andrew here at the Brooklyn Museum for several years, I can assure you that he is a skilled educator who shares our passion and commitment to serving the school audience. Too often, arts education and programming for school children do fall victim to budget cuts or shifting priorities. At first glance, it might appear that our later opening would be yet another loss for our children. But we took this reality into consideration when we designed the new schedule; service to guided school groups is maintained through staggered work schedules.
Thanks Alisa.
The new hours sounds like a great addition and I look forward to using it.
Would you also be able to align your opening hours similar to the Botanic Gardens who is open on school holidays when it lands on a Monday (such as Memorial Day, Columbus Day, President’s Day ect).
Would you have a enough patronage on those days?
Portia, we look forward to welcoming you! At this time, we won’t be open on holidays that fall on Mondays. We are, however open on holidays that fall on our normal open days (Wednesday thru Sunday) – with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Please note that this year, Christmas and New Year’s Eves both fall on Fridays. On those days, the Museum will close at 5pm instead of staying open late until 10pm.