Museum Info

Monday – Saturday:
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday:
Noon – 5 p.m.

500 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204

News Release Eiteljorg Museum closed to visitors temporarily as health precaution

Museum plans to reopen and reschedule programs at a later date

INDIANAPOLIS – To reduce possible spread of COVID-19, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western art will temporarily close to visitors, starting Tuesday, March 17.

Based on the recommendations of public health authorities and after conferring with other cultural institutions, Eiteljorg management decided to close the building to the general public until further notice.

“Although not under a government mandate to close, we conclude that for the health of our guests, employees, visitors and our community, temporarily closing the building to visitors is the right thing to do,” Eiteljorg President and CEO John Vanausdall said. “We are monitoring the situation and listening to the advice of public health authorities, and will reopen the Eiteljorg to guests when the museum board of directors concludes it is safe to do so.”

In addition to temporarily closing the Eiteljorg’s art galleries and the Museum Cafe, the following museum public programs will be postponed or canceled:

  • Saturday, March 21: The kickoff events for the new exhibition Quilts: Uncovering Women’s Stories, including the lecture by Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, gallery tour and Quilts opening party.
  • Saturday, March 25: The meeting of the Western Book Club.
  • Friday, April 3: The curator’s choice talk by Dorene Red Cloud, assistant curator of Native American art, about the quilt by Susan Hudson, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women since 1492.
  • Saturday April 4: Smithsonian Museum Day and International Slow Art Day.
  • Saturday April 11: The quilting-related workshop by InFiber.
  • Saturday April 18: Undercover Tour of Quilts, with curator of Western art, history and culture Johanna M. Blume.
  • Thursday, April 23: Volunteer Recognition Dinner
  • Saturday, April 25: Spring Market
  • Friday, May 1: The curator’s choice talk by quilt artists Karen Colglazier and Diane Bremen.
  • Saturday, May 9: Quilts workshop with Crimson Tate.

The Eiteljorg is making every effort to reschedule programming events to later dates, if and when possible.

Since early March, the Eiteljorg facilities staff has pursued aggressive cleaning and disinfecting measures for the safety of guests. That had allowed the museum to remain open to visitors through March 16 when the latest developments in the city and state prompted the temporary closure. The public can check the museum’s website, www.eiteljorg.org, or social media for the latest announcements on when the museum and its galleries of Native American and Western art will reopen to visitors, and when programming events will resume.

About the Eiteljorg Museum
A cultural pillar for more than 30 years in downtown Indianapolis’ scenic White River State Park, the Eiteljorg Museum seeks to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the art, history and cultures of the American West and the Indigenous peoples of North America by telling amazing stories. Located on the Central Canal at 500 West Washington St., the Eiteljorg is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. It was named one of the USA Today Readers’ Choice 10 Best Indiana Attractions.

 

Media Contacts:
Bryan Corbin
Public Relations Manager
317.275.1315
bcorbin@eiteljorg.com

Bert Beiswanger
Director of Marketing and Communications
317.275.1317
bbeiswanger@eiteljorg.com

Hyacinth Rucker
Digital Communications Manager
317.275.1388
hrucker@eiteljorg.com

 

 

 

 

 

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