MK Gallery opened it doors again in May after a tricky year of being open in September, October and for 18 days in December, they are over the moon to welcome visitors back. Their approach is very much visitors first and what is possible in the pandemic.
To make visitors as comfortable as possible the staff are lateral flow testing and how to keep them safe is constantly being discussed. To visit, the audience are being asked to book online first, this can be done in person but there might be a wait and it can take a minute or two to get all of the information for track and trace.
The main exhibition is visual art, it is currently Memphis: Plastic Field which looks great. This opened in December and is on until 12 September 2021. MK aren’t asking the artists to risk assess their work, the gallery is doing it. If it moves, play sound or has lighting they do the risk assessment with the artist. For sound they have removed head phones and have spread the pieces out to allow the sound to travel.
They are looking to do more outdoors and are really enthusiastic for it to happen, especially with a teenage audience. On Monday’s they have parkour which is great as it activates the site, there is graffiti on the floor outside. Over the summer there will be lots of activities taking place.
From my chat with Niki and Tara the audience was the most important thing for them and them feeling comfortable. They want to make sure if you are a fully enthusiastic toucher you have a great time and if you are feeling very vulnerable you can come and enjoy the exhibition in full confidence that the gallery is doing every thing they can to look after you. They are really excited to be working outside of the gallery over the summer which I’m really excited about as it really is my favourite place to work.
