Public Health Regulation Updates, Fairness for the Arts Campaigns, and More
Hello everyone,
It has been a relief these last couple of weeks to see our city and our province start to reopen after COVID-19 lockdowns, with the downtown coming back to life and some stores and organizations permitted to welcome limited numbers of people back through their doors.
However, the arts remain notably quiet, as public health regulations continue to force the closure of rehearsal and performance spaces, galleries and museums, and continue to prevent even small outdoor gatherings; all while the guidelines about what will be permitted going forward remain unclear.
In this Bulletin, we will attempt to provide some clarity with updates from Peterborough Public Health about exactly what is and isn’t permitted for the arts, now and as we move into Step 2 and 3 of the Reopening Ontario Plan. The Bulletin also provides information on some campaigns arguing for fairer treatment for the arts as these plans move forward.
We encourage everyone to follow these campaigns, take part, help spread the word, and argue for better, fairer treatment for our arts organizations.
Peterborough Public Health Updates
Uncertain about how the various steps of reopening will affect your arts organization? Keith Beecroft, Public Health Promoter at Peterborough Public Health, has put together some useful clarifications.
Keith says, “With regards to all that will be offered/available/allowed in Step 2 – we are still waiting on the specifics detailed in the Regulations; we hope to have the Regulations before we enter Step 2, but that has not always been the case. As you’ll note for Step 1 – very little is permitted right now in the arts sector, with the exception of rehearsals, and or recorded/broadcasted events.”
Step 1
In plain language:
- No live audiences
- Only those that are essential to the rehearsal or broadcast are permitted on site
- Only 10 may be on the premises/property
- You must remain outdoors
- You must record the names and contact info of everyone who is involved in the rehearsal or broadcast
- Drive in performances are allowed, however:
- Everyone must stay in their vehicle
- Vehicles must be at least 2m from the next vehicle
- Vehicles can only be occupied by members of the same household (and one support for a person if required)
Step 2 (more details TBA)
- Indoor closed, permitted only for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted event – spectators not permitted
- Outdoor open, including live music, with spectator capacity and other restrictions
Step 3 (more details TBA)
- Indoor open, including live music, with spectator capacity and other restrictions
- Outdoor open, including live music, with spectator capacity and other restrictions
We will work with Peterborough Public Health to provide further details as we find out more.
For those who are interested in more information about the Step 1 regulations, here is the specific language from the law, O. Reg. 82/20, Rules for Step 1, Schedule 7 Section 65, with sections relevant to the above in bold.
Entertainment
65. (1) Concert venues, theatres and cinemas that meet the conditions set out in subsection (2) or (3).
(2) Concert venues, theatres and cinemas may open for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted concert, artistic event, theatrical performance or other performance on outdoor premises if they comply with the following conditions:
1. No spectators may be permitted anywhere on the premises.
2. Only persons who are essential to the rehearsal or performance are permitted anywhere on the premises.
3. No more than 10 performers may be permitted to participate in the rehearsal or performance.
4. Every performer and other person who performs work for the concert venue, theatre or cinema must maintain a physical distance of at least three metres from every other person.
5. No performer or other person who performs work for the concert venue, theatre or cinema may be permitted in an indoor area of the concert venue, theatre or cinema, except,
i. where necessary to use a washroom,
ii. where necessary to access an outdoor area that can only be accessed through an indoor route, or
iii. as may otherwise be required for the purposes of health and safety.
6. The person responsible for the concert venue, theatre or cinema must,
i. record the name and contact information of every performer or other person who is present at the rehearsal or performance,
ii. maintain the records for a period of at least one month, and
iii. only disclose the records to a medical officer of health or an inspector under the Health Protection and Promotion Act on request for a purpose specified in section 2 of that Act or as otherwise required by law.
7. The person responsible for the concert venue, theatre or cinema must ensure that individuals are actively screened in accordance with the advice, recommendations and instructions of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health before they enter the premises.
(3) Concert venues, theatres and cinemas may open if they comply with the following conditions:
1. The movie, concert, artistic event, theatrical performance or other performance must be provided in a drive-in or drive-through format.
2. Each person in attendance at the drive-in cinema or the drive-in or drive-through concert, event or performance, other than persons who perform work for the drive-in cinema or the drive-in or drive-through concert, event or performance, must remain within a motor vehicle designed to be closed to the elements except,
i. where necessary to purchase admission,
ii. where necessary to use a washroom, or
iii. as may otherwise be required for the purposes of health and safety.
3. Every motor vehicle at the drive-in cinema or the drive-in or drive-through concert, event or performance may only contain members of a single household plus a maximum of one additional person from outside that household who lives alone.
4. The driver of a motor vehicle at the drive-in cinema or the drive-in or drive-through concert, event or performance must ensure that it is positioned at least two metres away from other motor vehicles.
Fairness for the Arts
As you may notice from the above, the restrictions on arts organizations remain incredibly strict, particularly when compared to other cultural industries, and many arts organizations won’t be able to reopen until well into Step 2 or Step 3. CBC Radio program Ontario Today devoted an entire episode last week to Why people in the arts feel overlooked in Ontario’s reopening plan. It’s well worth a listen.
We also wanted to draw your attention to two campaigns currently underway that aim to change this:
The Canadian Live Music Association’s #FairnessForArtsON campaign advocates for clearer and fairer guidelines for the performing arts, and changes to the regulations that would help Ontario artists to get back to work, and allow performing arts venues to reopen as soon as possible.
The Ontario Association of Art Galleries’ #SupportVisualArtsON similarly argues for clearer and fairer guidelines for museums and galleries, and argues these institutions should be able to reopen in Step 2.
Upcoming Grant Deadlines
Here are some important grant deadlines coming up soon:
- Jun 30: Canada Arts Training Fund (Canadian Heritage)
- Aug 05: Theatre Projects (OAC)
- Aug 31: Museums Assistance Program (Canadian Heritage)
- Sep 02: Literary Creation Projects: Works for Publication (OAC)
- Sep 08: Arts Abroad: Circulation and Touring / Residencies (Canada Council)
- Sep 08: Arts Across Canada: Circulation and Touring (Canada Council)
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.
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