Guides and Advice for Reopening Arts and Culture Organizations
A Message from EC3
Hello friends,
It’s official: our region of Ontario has now entered Stage Two of the Reopening Ontario program. Many businesses and organizations have reopened or are in the process of reopening, and more are getting set to reopen as soon as they’re able to. It’s a strange time and our hearts are heavy to see that so many festivals and theatre companies have had to cancel their seasons while others hover nervously on standby.
In the arts, culture, and heritage (ACH) world, some art galleries and museums in the country have already opened their doors, and there are even some concerts happening south of the border. However, opening safely, cost effectively and with artistic integrity intact, is a huge challenge for most local arts groups and this is being felt and experienced all across the country.
While the dates for safely reopening may feel far off for many ACH organizations, the time to start planning for what exactly reopening might look like is NOW. Reopening may require significant adaptations to ensure the health and safety of employees, artists, and audiences alike.
This Bulletin collects resources and guides to best practices for reopening, as well as some examples of the policies and procedures some arts and culture organizations have already put in place. If you are still assessing impact and running recovery scenarios, there are some good tools here too.
EC3 will host a series of webinars on reopening issues in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned. Let us know what is on your mind: questions, concerns, possibilities.
In the meantime, here are two of the best tools we have come across:
Impact Assessment and Scenario Planning: Accounting firm BDO provides a very helpful tool COVID-19 Crisis Management Questions Checklist for Not-For-Profits.
Reopening: Arts and culutre charitable organization Business/Arts hosted a webinar on the topic “What will it take for people to return to the arts?,” which is now available to watch on their blog, and read the NANOS report it was based on.
General Resources
The Ontario government has set up a page with Resources to prevent COVID-19 in the workplace, including industry-specific best-practices guides for reopening.
The Canadian government’s extensive article Risk-informed decision-making for mass gatherings during COVID-19 pandemic provides useful guidance for anyone planning an event or gathering.
The World Health Organization’s document Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19 (PDF) is full of useful advice, including a section on running events and meetings.
Accounting firm BDO provides a very helpful tool COVID-19 Crisis Management Questions Checklist for Not-For-Profits.
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce has set up the Peterborough PPE Retail Hub, a list of local businesses selling personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, gloves, plexiglass shields, and other supplies necessary for making your space COVID-compliant.
Audience Research
The Canadian Association for the Performing Arts (CAPACOA) has published an excellent review of recent audience surveys and research, What will make audiences feel safe to return to live performances?, as well as a template for audience surveys, particularly for performing arts organizations.
IMPACTS Research & Development has some fascinating research on how the pandemic is influencing perceptions and intentions to visit cultural entities. See for instance their post If You Reopen, Will They Come? Four Factors Driving Attendance.
Arts and culutre charitable organization Business/Arts hosted a webinar on the topic “What will it take for people to return to the arts?,” which is now available to watch on their blog, and read the NANOS report it was based on.
Resources for Museums and Galleries
Canadian Art’s article Art Galleries and Museums Start to Reopen, Where Permitted provides some interesting real-world examples of how galleries and museums in Canada, including the Winnipeg Art Gallery, are managing reopening.
The Canadian Museums Association is collecting reopening best-practices guides for museums from around the world
Resources for the Performing Arts
The Event Safety Alliance has published an extensive Reopening Guide covering everything event and venue professionals need to consider.
The Performing Arts Center Consortium has published an extensive Guide to Reopening Theatrical Venues (PDF).
ActSafe, a BC public safety organization for the arts and entertainment industry, has an excellent resource list for the performing arts, including an Industry Relaunch Framework.
The Canadian Association for the Performing Arts (CAPACOA) held a webinar (now available as a recording) titled A Clean Slate for Reopening about public safety and reopening.
Chorus Connections has an excellent article What Community Chorus Leaders Should be Doing Right Now, which also includes a link to download their document, A Season Planning Guide Amidst COVID-19. Lots of useful advice for anyone planning their upcoming performance season.
Take a look at the Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Pandemic Plan, which the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres has made available online for free.
Other Discipline-Specific Resources
Photography: Professional Photographers of Canada (PDF) and Professional Photographers of America have both released guides for safe photography during COVID-19.
Film and television: Workplace Safety & Prevention Services has released Guidance on Health and Safety for Television Hosts, Technical Crews and other TV and Film Employees during COVID-19 (PDF).
Please stay well and let us know how we can help.
TRACK THE IMPACT.
As always, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the COVID-19 Updates page on EC3’s website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.
It’s a tough time for sure. Everyone is feeling the pressure. Hope these tools help along the way. Be safe, stay healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Su Ditta and the EC3 Board and staff
Contact
Su Ditta
Executive Director
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org
705 749 9101
