Yes, the Carter is open with protocols and procedures in place to protect the health and safety of our staff and community. The Carter will maintain our traditional hours of operation: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays and on select holidays.

Face masks are recommended regardless of vaccination status, but not required. All visitors over the age of 2, and staff, are encouraged to wear a face mask while in the Museum. Face masks are optional for fully vaccinated visitors and staff.

At the Carter, we are encouraging all visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, to wear a mask. If your child has not received the vaccination, we recommend they wear a mask during their visit.

Masks can either be manufactured or homemade and should be a solid piece of material secured to the head with ties or loops. Masks must cover the nose and mouth of the wearer and should fit snugly against the face.

The following do not fulfill CDC recommendations for masks:

• Masks worn in a way that does not cover both the mouth and nose
• Face shields or goggles (face shields or goggles may be worn to supplement a mask that meets above required attributes)
• Scarves, bandanas, or ski masks
• Shirt or sweater collars (e.g., turtleneck collars) pulled up over the mouth and nose.
• Masks made from loosely woven fabric or that are knitted (i.e., fabrics that let light pass through such as mesh, fringe, or lace)
• Masks made from materials that are hard to breathe through (such as vinyl, plastic or leather)
• Masks containing slits, exhalation valves, or punctures
• Masks that do not fit properly (large gaps, too loose or too tight)

The Carter is a private museum and, as such, is permitted to make independent decisions on operational practices such as capacity and mask requirements. The Carter is proud to offer free access to American art, as we have done for the past 60 years, but our top priority is the safety and health of our community and staff. Based on guidelines from the CDC, face masks have been shown to effectively prevent the spread of COVID-19, but per the recent guidelines, masks are now optional for all visitors and staff. We also encourage everyone to practice social distancing.

The Carter has signage that encourages social distancing. This, along with the strategic placement of Gallery Associates, has created a low-touch environment for staff and visitors.

The Carter reopened on June 19, 2020, with new protocols and procedures in place to protect the health and safety of our staff and community. In addition to taking the CDC guidelines and recommendations of health officials into consideration, the Museum consulted with local and national peer institutions to determine what measures and procedures would best protect visitors and staff.

The Museum is taking a series of steps to ensure the health and safety of its staff and visitors such as encouraging the use of face masks, practicing social distancing (6 feet apart), and frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces.

The Carter has implemented a series of new sanitation and cleaning procedures, which will be enacted consistently throughout all hours of operation. New cleaning procedures include increased frequency of cleaning and sanitizing high-touch areas and implementing new products with enhanced disinfectant mechanisms.

The health and safety of our visitors is a top priority. In addition to the implementation of new safety and sanitation protocols, the Carter has considered recommendations from the CDC and AAM regarding best practices toward establishing as safe an environment as practically possible.

The Carter’s Food Cart is open during Museum hours. Outside food or beverages are not permitted inside the Museum galleries.

The Museum Shop is currently open. Shop items are also available for purchase online.

Bag and Coat Check are available free of charge, and all lockers, keys, and coat hangers will be subject to increased cleaning and sanitation measures. Visitors may carry bags smaller than 11 x 15 inches, and both soft front-facing carriers and strollers are allowed throughout the Museum. Backpacks are not permitted in the Museum galleries. Diaper bags designed as backpacks must be carried on the visitor’s side or on one shoulder, following standard museum protocol.

The Carter is offering tours, both in the Museum galleries and on-site at centers, for community centers. We have distance learning opportunities available for student groups during the school year. To schedule a visit, go to cartermuseum.org/StudentTours. We also welcome everyone to experience the Carter’s digital programming, which can be found on the Events page, Facebook page, YouTube channel, and the Google Arts & Culture platform.