England's tiered reopening allows museums and galleries to resume from December 2 with capacity limits

From December 2, museums, galleries, and performance spaces in England can reopen in areas under tier one and two restrictions following a four-week lockdown. The government has implemented a stricter version of the three-tier system originally introduced in October, with regions assigned tiers based on infection data reviewed on Thursday. Venues in tiers one and two must operate at 50% capacity, capped at 1,000 attendees, while maintaining COVID-secure measures and social distancing. In tier two, indoor mixing with individuals outside one's household or support bubble is prohibited, and all venues must close by 11pm. However, museums, cinemas, and theatres will remain closed in tier three regions. These regulations will be reassessed every 14 days. This policy shift comes amid concerns about the UK art sector's viability, with an Art Fund study revealing that 60% of institutions worry about survival due to COVID-19 impacts. Additionally, 61% of museum and gallery staff fear job losses.