Why Keeping Museums Closed During Pandemic Is the Saddest but Fairest Choice

Massimiliano Tonelli argues that keeping museums closed during the pandemic, while sad, is the most just decision. He refutes the idea that closures are a conspiracy against culture, emphasizing that many museums are complex machines calibrated for specific visitor volumes and revenue streams. Reopening without sufficient public—due to travel restrictions and lockdowns—would incur unsustainable costs, strain staff shortages, and risk damaging relationships with concessionaires. Tonelli notes that museums continue research and conservation work behind closed doors, and that staying closed allows them to preserve financial resources for a proper reopening. He advocates for tailored measures rather than blanket policies, but ultimately supports the government's cautious approach.