Photography and Culture Are Alive at Fotografiska New York

Fotografiska New York, the destination for photography and culture in the Flatiron District of New York City, reopened to the public on August 28, 2020, after being closed since March.

The long-awaited reopening comes on the heels of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announcing that New York City museums and other low-risk indoor cultural institutions could reopen, subject to state guidance and strict safety protocols.

Guided by the principle of inspiring a more conscious world through photography, Fotografiska has built a safe haven of innovation, inclusivity, and self-expression. The powerful and unparalleled presentation of photography includes over 220 exhibitions to date globally, such as Annie Leibovitz, Zanele Muholi, Albert Watson, Ren Hang, Sebastião Salgado, Bettina Rheims, Sally Mann, David LaChapelle, and Robert Mapplethorpe.

Originally opened in December 2019, Fotografiska New York closed its doors mid-March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Groups looking to enjoy the museum could now visit Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The museum will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays for cleaning, private tours, and personal shopping.

Fotografiska New York is implementing enhanced health and safety measures help keep guests and staff safe:

• All visitors and staff must wear a face mask while inside the museum, temperature checks will be administered prior to entering the building, and a safe social distance of 6 feet between parties must be maintained.
• Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building and common surfaces will be cleaned and sanitized throughout the day—in addition to deep cleaning after museum hours.
• Plexiglass shields have been installed at the front desk and purchases made at the museum will be cashless/contactless through credit or debit card only.

Visitors who have been in close contact with anyone who has, or had, cold or flu-like symptoms are asked to reschedule their trip to the museum until after completing a medically recommended quarantine period. Further information on health and safety precautions can be found on the Fotografiska New York website.

To keep the overall museum capacity at 25%, admission to the museum will be on a timed entry basis, with special reduced pricing in effect through 2020: $24 general admission; $14 for seniors, students and military personnel; and free admission to first responders and frontline healthcare providers.

Groups wishing to do some shopping while at the museum are in luck: The Shop, Fotografiska's retail space, is currently open and has been re-merchandised for safe and inspired shopping. Retail items at The Shop are on display for visitors to browse, while clean and untouched items are stored separately in the stockroom. Make your group feel like VIPs with private personal shopping appointments, available on Tuesdays when the museum is closed to the public.

The Shop has also joined the 15% Pledge—working to commit upward of 15% of retail space to Black-owned business. In addition, at least 25% of future in-store events will be dedicated to featuring people of color-owned brands and products.

To learn more about the museum and their current exhibits, visit Fotografiska New York.

Written by Sarah Suydam, Staff Writer for Groups Today.

Photo courtesy of Fotografiska New York.