The ACSO board and staff send support and sympathy to all our members who have cancelled or postponed concerts and other programming. As COVID-19 continues to spread, orchestras and musicians are anticipating financial loss. We join the League of America Orchestras in urging our members to tell Congress that orchestras and musicians need access to federal COVID-19 economic relief!
March 14, 2020: Paid Leave Provisions Included in Bipartisan Federal COVID-19 Relief Package
March 11, 2020 Update: Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California public health officials this evening issued an updated policy on gatherings to protect public health and slow the spread of COVID-19. The state’s public health experts have determined that gatherings should be postponed or canceled across the state until at least the end of March. Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people, while smaller events can proceed only if the organizers can implement social distancing of 6 feet per person. Gatherings of individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should be limited to no more than 10 people, while also following social distancing guidelines. Read the full state of California mass gatherings policy at this link.
The new executive order waives the one-week waiting period for people who are unemployed and/or disabled as a result of COVID-19; delays the deadline for state tax filing by 60 days for individuals and businesses unable to file on time based on compliance with public health requirements related to COVID-19 filings; and announces other measures. Read the full executive order at this link.
March 12, 2020: From the California Arts Council to its Grantees and Contractors with Active or Upcoming Programming
The CAC recognizes that some of its grantees and contractors will have to postpone, modify, or cancel their planned activities supported by CAC funds due to state and local public health guidelines. If you are a grantee and your organization is impacted, please complete this form detailing your specific circumstance and request.
The California Arts Council is surveying the arts field at large to gather data on the potential financial impacts of this public health emergency. If you are an organization or individual in the arts field that anticipates losing personal or business income related to COVID-19, please consider filling out the brief survey at this link. This is a quickly evolving situation and this data will be an important resource to inform our agency and the state.
ACSO is closely monitoring coronavirus developments and we will continue to share information that is relevant for our members in response to changing conditions. For the latest information about national and statewide impact and risk levels, we recommend that you frequently monitor and follow the lead of the Centers for Disease Control, the California Department of Public Health, and your local county health department websites, particularly if you are considering concert or event cancellation.
We also recommend that you work closely with your venues to review evacuation procedures and implement extra precautionary measures, including more frequent cleaning and disinfecting of public areas.
Continue to stay in communication with your ticket holders and patrons and encourage anyone who is experiencing cold or flu symptoms, or who is not feeling well, to stay home and contact your patron services team for more information about ticket exchanges and policies.
For emergency planning resources including sample stakeholder communications, international artist travel, event preparation, guidance for businesses, and workplace readiness, we recommend the following websites:
- Official Guidelines from the State of California
- Corona Virus: Are you prepared for a temporary closure? - National Coalition for Arts' Preparedness & Emergency Response
- Preparing for Potential Impact of the Coronavirus - Arts Ready
- Coronavirus - League of American Orchestras
- Preparing for COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - CalSAE
- Arts and Culture Sector Can Prepare for the Coronavirus in the United States - Americans for the Arts
- Does My Policy Cover A Loss Caused by Coronavirus? - CalNonprofits
- Two webinars: Theatre Communications Group's Coronavirus Preparedness Webinar and the Event Safety Alliance's Prepare Your Organization for the Coronavirus Disease Outbreak
- Common Field Growing List of COVID-19 Resources
