Programs and Events
Until further notice, we plan to keep all programming virtual.
Contacting Staff
AAMI staff will be returning to the building on a rotating schedule, with some team members continuing to work from home. We continue to encourage using staff business email addresses for contact rather than phones. Please note that the general phone line is not monitored when we are not open to the public. If you have a general inquiry you would like answered, please use our contact form. We discourage calling or leaving voicemails at this time, as it may be difficult for staff to respond to calls.
Engaging With the Museum
We will continue to offer digital resources to the public. We plan to create additional digital programming and will make announcements on our website and social media channels when those programs are available.
Prevention Plan
We’re working to keep our staff, volunteers, and visitors safe by taking the following measures:
- All team members working with the public must wear face coverings.
- Team members will wear gloves when handling payments or store merchandise. Transactions will be contactless.
- Frequently touched surfaces including hands-on interactives, touch screens, door handles, and restroom facilities are cleaned with disinfectant before, during, and after each day we are open.
- Capacity in our gallery will be limited for patron and staff safety. Current capacities will be posted at the gallery entrance.
- Some of our hands-on activities have been removed or modified. Please enjoy the rest of our exhibits at your own discretion, and thank you for your understanding.
- We have installed a plexiglass barrier at our front desk to minimize person to person contact.
- All visitors over the age of two are required to wear a mask. This requirement does not apply to individuals who are unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition.
- All visitors are required to maintain social distance by implementing one-way traffic in our galleries and installing floor markers every six feet.
- Capacity is limited in all areas of the Museum, including:
- 30 people in the gallery, no more than 6 per group
- 3 people in the store
- 10 people in the lobby
COVID-19 Health Risk
Community spread has been detected in Iowa. Confirmed cases in Iowa can be tracked at the Iowa Department of Public Health website. While reports indicate that risk for individuals under 60 without pre-existing conditions is low, it is important to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Taking appropriate mitigation measures is essential in order to reduce the burden on our healthcare system and ensure that those who need treatment will be able to receive it. Even if you are at low risk as an individual, engaging in social distancing can help to protect members of your community at a higher risk.
All individuals are being asked to engage in common preventative measures such as covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper arm/elbow, cleaning your hands frequently with soap and water, and containing germs by staying home when ill. In addition to these precautions, all Iowans are being encouraged to stay home unless you need to leave for essential travel, such as to purchase food or to receive essential medical care. If you think that you have been exposed to COVID-19, please follow the instructions provided by the Iowa Department of Public Health and do
It is normal to feel some anxiety about a new virus, and the Iowa Department of Public Health has posted suggestions for dealing with that anxiety. The AAMI would like to encourage our patrons to take reasonable preventive measures and to look for information from reputable sources.
Resources
How You Can Help the Museum
As a result of our COVID-19 closures, the AAMI will experience a loss of approximately $1,250 of earned revenue for every week we remain closed. During this time of uncertainty, it is important to ensure that cultural resources like our museum can continue to operate and will be able to return to sharing our resources with the public once the crisis as passed. Your support as a member or donor can help ensure that we can provide digital resources throughout our closure and that we will be able to have a strong reopening when it is safe to do so. We know that many families and individuals are experiencing financial uncertainty at this time, but if you have resources to give, please consider supporting our mission to preserve, exhibit, and teach Iowa’s African American heritage.
Website donated by:
