In light of the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent government social distancing guidelines, the next edition of the Museums + Heritage Show has been postponed and will now take place on the 12th and 13th May 2021.

“Everything we know to be normal in business terms has changed immeasurably, and collectively we are all scrambling to make the best of a truly awful situation,” notes Anna Preedy, director of the Museums + Heritage Show. “The one thing that is clear to me, however, is that this situation is likely to continue for a considerable amount of time and we must therefore try and do everything possible to help each other and to find a way to get back on track.

“I am very aware that museums, galleries and heritage attractions are all in a very difficult position at the moment and I would very much like to ensure we can continue to provide a much-needed space for networking and knowledge building,” she continues. “Next year, more than ever, that is going to be hugely important for the sector as a whole.”

Preedy acknowledges that the decision to postpone the event was “very difficult to accept”, but concedes that there was no choice given the current crisis engulfing the nation. While the Show has been unable to welcome visitors as scheduled, prospective attendees will not have to wait until 2021 to access its much-anticipated content.

The annual platform for ideas sharing will instead be made available online this year, with highlights set to be published from the 50 free talks which had been programmed and the numerous companies who were planning to exhibit at the Show. Further details of this will be revealed in the coming weeks.

“It is an enormous privilege to work in the museums sector and to be at the centre of connecting those who supply and advise museums with the people working in our great cultural organisations and institutions,” Preedy concludes. “Ours is a sector which is passionate, committed, determined and resourceful: I am sure it will be doing what it does best again very soon.”

The Museums + Heritage Show will now take place on 12-13 May 2021 at Olympia London. The Museums + Heritage Awards shortlist, which has also been postponed, will be announced on 1 July and the ceremony will be taking place in the autumn, on 22 September.

Click here to register for your free ticket to the 2021 Museums + Heritage Show.

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