Here in the south East, close to London as an ‘at risk’ family we are largely self isolating. It is probably safe to assume that events, exhibitions, museums are closed/closing, but worth checking with them if you wish to visit. Here are a few closures/staying open advices I have had, which may be useful:
- Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool: “We are temporarily closing….from Saturday 21st March 2020, at 5pm. I wanted to write and inform you of our gallery situation given the closure this week of the Bluecoat main building following recent Government advice for COVID-19. The Bluecoat have advised that we can continue to trade and have full access to our space here until Saturday 21st March at 5pm. During the next few days we are trying to safely and securely lockdown our gallery and to set up remote access of emails, website as well as mail and call diversion.
We are thinking of ways we can keep promoting and selling work whilst we are absent from the physical gallery so we will be in touch with further news shortly. In the short term if there is something you need we can liase with our makers and have pieces sent directly from their studios to your home which can be paid for via a bank transfer.
If you have any specific queries or concerns please contact us by email. crafts@bluecoatdisplaycentre.com and hopefully via a diversion from our regular phone number to a mobile number. - Transport for London: TfL are advising only to travel if essential. The message is “check before you travel” From Monday 23 March a reduced service will operate generally on their services. An up to date picture of service changes due to COVID-19 can be found on https://tfl.gov.uk/status-updates/stations-lifts-and-escalators-works-and-closures
- 50 galleries in Japan are coming together for a free online art gallery: Major art exhibitions such as Art Fair Tokyo and Kyotographiehave either been cancelled or postponed till later this year. Japanese art magazine Bijutsutecho has created an ‘online viewing art gallery’ called Oil by Bijutsutecho. Set to go live on Friday March 20 at 10am, it can be accessed for free without any registration from anywhere in the world. There will be a total of 700 artworks on display, sourced from over 50 galleries in Japan, including Tokyo’s hpgrp Gallery, Misako & Rosen and Tomio Koyama Gallery. Click here for the virtual gallery.
- London Design Fair 17-20 September 2020: “London Design Fair will still go ahead as planned on the 17-20 September at Truman Brewery, Shoreditch. If there are any updates or changes that need to be made, we will let you know as soon as possible.”
- London Potters: Saturday 28 March 2020 – Glaze Chemistry Workshop with Linda Bloomfield has been cancelled. Further events have been suspended for the time being. As Hon. President of LP if any Members think I could help them, you are welcome to email me on sdee@studiopottery.co.uk
- Leach Pottery, Temporary Museum Closure: “In the light of the current COVID-19 situation, we have taken the very difficult decision to close the Leach Pottery Museum and postpone all events and courses until at least 22 May 2020. The Shop and Studio will however remain open until further notice. Get involved by checking our website and keeping an eye on our social media channels.”
- English Heritage: “Following the latest government recommendations, we have taken the decision to close all our staffed historic sites from the end of Wednesday 18th March until 1st May. We will be reviewing this and will keep you updated on the website. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about-us/search-news/covid-19-statement Some sites may be opened earlier and we will advise if this is the case. We also need to cancel our public events during this period.”
More will follow as I am advised – Stephen