REOPENING CT ARTS VENUES: SCIENCE-BASED SAFETY
Preparedness, Consumer Confidence, Clarity for Constituents
has become the guiding light for reopening arts venues in our state. The arts community wants to reopen, but, more importantly, artists want you and your family to be safe while attending art openings, exhibitions and performances. Early in the lockdown, Shoreline Arts Alliance recognized the statewide need for science-based knowledge and information for arts venues, organizations, artists and those creating regulatory protocols within the state of Connecticut.
Shoreline Arts Alliance called upon the Yale School of Public Health and partnered with them to explore and deliver science-based information to inspire both artist and consumer confidence, and ensure economic success and long-term viability. Eric Dillner, Executive Director of Shoreline Arts Alliance, is the Founder and Chair of the Reopen CT’s Arts Venues Task Force which has created a series of webinars and presentations, “REOPENING CT ARTS VENUES: SCIENCE-BASED SAFETY, Preparedness, Consumer Confidence, Clarity for Constituents” that has drawn over 4000 participants and generated hundreds of questions to be answered by panelists.
The arts community has a true hunger and strong desire to open its doors, looking through the lens of science. While this program was designed for Connecticut artists and arts venues, participants have joined from our neighboring New England states and from as far away as North Carolina.
The second phase of this initiative has begun and Shoreline Arts Alliance staff and representatives from the Yale School of Public Health are busy traveling to venues throughout the state with a film crew to address the needs and changes that must made in each case to create safe environments for workers, performers and audience members or visitors. Recent visits have been made to Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Hill-stead Museum in Farmington, Real Art Ways and Mark Twain House in Hartford and Connecticut College Arboretum and waterfront stages and outdoor venues in New London. These video presentations will be shared to help others develop reopening plans and inspire consumer confidence, drawing audiences back to museums, indoor and outdoor performance venues, maker spaces, and studios.
Additionally, as venues begin to open with prudence, Shoreline Arts Alliance will be hosting on-site media events to welcome audiences. Dillner, accompanied by local public health officials, will hold kick-off events to promote and inspire consumer confidence.
Past webinars are available on the Shoreline Arts Alliance Facebook page and Youtube channel. Shoreline Arts Alliance is excited to be providing this service to artists, arts organizations and consumers. Any arts venue or museum interested in scheduling a site visit is encouraged to email us.