CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 30: A lion sculpture in front of the Art Institute wears a mask with a depiction of the Chicago flag on April 30, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. On May 1, the state of Illinois will begin requiring everyone to wear a face mask in public when social distancing is not possible to prevent the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The Art Institute of Chicago announced Wednesday that the iconic museum will reopen to the public on July 30 after previously closing because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Free admission will be offered for Illinois residents through Aug. 3, according to the Art Institute.
Visitors must purchase tickets or reserve free tickets through the museum's website. Face coverings and maintaining physical distance from those outside individual groups will be required.
"The Art Institute will continue to be at the forefront in its responsiveness to evolving environmental and civic circumstances that impact the community," the museum said in a statement. "Operational changes have been implemented to ensure the collective well-being of visitors and staff while providing the familiar experience of care, trust, and excellence expected of the museum."
The museum’s initial hours will be noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The first hour of each day will be reserved for members.
The exhibition "El Greco: Ambition and Defiance," on view for just a week before the museum closed, will remain open through Oct. 19. Other rescheduled and extended exhibits include, "Malangatana: Mozambique Modern, Bauhaus Chicago: Design in the City," "Pure Drawing: Seven Centuries of Art from the Gray Collection" and "Noda Tetsuya: My Life in Print. Monet and Chicago."
