Polk Museum of Art Announces COVID-19-Conscious Closures and Event Cancelations

Lakeland, FL (March 17, 2020) – The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College has announced it will be closed to the public until further notice to support the national effort to temper the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

“The health, safety, and well-being of our visitors, our community, and our staff is of utmost importance to us during this time of heightened awareness over the COVID-19 virus,” states Dr. Alexander Rich, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Museum.

“Over the past few weeks, we at the Museum have actively taken extra precautions to minimize our visitors' — and our staff's — potential exposures to the virus following the recommendations of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health.  As our next step, we have decided to close the Museum to the public until further notice to support the national effort to temper the virus' spread. Our Museum offices will be closed as well, and our staff will work remotely, all in an effort to foster not only their own healthfulness and that of their families and loved ones, but also to encourage on our team the same social distancing that may help abate the virus' impact worldwide.”

During this time, the Museum will continue its thorough cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing to ensure that when it does re-open, the Museum can once again offer a respite in art and culture for all audiences.

The Museum has canceled its March and April events and has decided to postpone its annual fine art festival, Mayfaire by-the-Lake, which was originally scheduled for May 9 and 10th, 2020. Any rescheduling of Museum programs will be announced at a later date.

For any additional information, please contact Taylor Holycross at 863.688.7743 ex. 249 or by email at tholycross@polkmuseumofart.org.