SHELBURNE, Vt. (WCAX) – When Vermont museums close for the winter, their buildings don’t just sit empty until spring. Staff spend time preparing for the change.
The first thing staff do is deinstall seasonal exhibits and complete a deep cleaning of all spaces.
“There’s a lot of things that are difficult to do when we are open to the public. This is a chance for us to spread out and kind of shift focus to other aspects of the museum’s operations,” Lindsay Varner, Rokeby Museum Director said.
No longer having to lead tours, volunteers at the Rokeby Museum take a deep dive into the collection, assessing and researching items.
They’ll also be pulling pieces for next year’s exhibit, which will focus on the artwork of three women from the historic home’s Robinson family.
“It is a very busy time for us, and it’s one of the most exciting times, because it’s when we get to discover new things in the archives and the collections and figure out ways to share it with the public,” Varner said.
Down the road at the Shelburne Museum, conservators work to repair and preserve items in the collection. While painters, carpenters, and curators design and prepare 16 of the museum’s 39 exhibit spaces.
Planning for some can be years in the making, and installation often begins as soon as the previous exhibit is taken out.
“There’s so much wonder involved in visiting a museum, right? That you come in and enjoy the exhibitions, there’s not a whole lot of thought about how it all comes here, how it all comes together,” Nancie Ravenel, Shelburne Museum Director said.
Even after they close for the season, both museums still hold public programming.
Shelburne will open their winter lights display at the end of November, while Rokeby will continue to host virtual and in-person school field trips.
“I think there’s a misperception that working in a museum is slow-paced and we have a lot of time to think. That is the misperception — it’s actually a fairly fast-paced environment with a lot of quick decision making,” Ravenel said.
Both the Rokeby and Shelburne Museums will reopen next May for daily visitors.