Plan to open England's shops before museums and galleries criticised

Museum and gallery leaders say Covid timetable makes no sense', with venues closed until 17 May

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Museum and gallery leaders in England have expressed anger, disappointment and bafflement at why commercial art galleries - which count as non-essential shops - can open five weeks before them.

It is just nuts," said Rebecca Salter, the president of the Royal Academy of Arts which, like other public galleries, has been told it can reopen no sooner than 17 May. Shops, meanwhile, can open on 12 April.