This is the latest update on when Sheffield's museums and galleries will reopen

Museums Sheffield's buildings – Weston Park Museum, the Graves Art Gallery and the Millennium Gallery – have been shut since March when lockdown was imposed as the coronavirus crisis worsened.

But on June 23 the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, told Parliament that such venues would be allowed to reopen along with cinemas, pubs and restaurants, while confirming the reduction in social distancing advice from two metres to one.

Newly-published guidance states that timed tickets, cashless payments and extra cleaning will be required to boost safety.

In an update to supporters, Museums Sheffield said: “As the lockdown restrictions continue to be eased we’re very much looking forward to welcoming you to your museums again.

“The wellbeing of our visitors and staff continues to be our number one priority and we’re currently hard at work planning and implementing measures to ensure you can visit safely and with confidence when the time comes.

“For now the museums remain closed, but we’ll share more information on when and how we’ll reopen with you soon.”

In England, London attractions such as The National Gallery, Tate Modern, the British Museum and the V&A are expected to be among the first to come back.

Museums and galleries on the continent have already reopened. On June 1 the Guggenheim in Bilbao returned, having brought in safety measures such as visitor temperature checks and the mandatory wearing of face masks.

The National Museum Directors’ Council chair, Sir Ian Blatchford, said: “All museums are keen to resume their vital role at the heart of communities but, as our guidelines recognise, the timing of re-opening will depend on local context, conversations with partners and a careful assessment of each museum’s ability to open its doors in a safe and financially sustainable manner.”

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