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STRATEGIES AND IDEAS

ARTS AND CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS

New ventures and channels already launched in the face of the pandemic to help promote and sustain the arts as a valuable part of our districts are likely to continue to play an important role in recovery efforts.

Enhance your patron’s comfort level.

Make liberal use of signs, decals, placards, counter displays, etc. to communicate to customers the health and safety measures you are taking to keep employees and customers safe.
This can tie into an escalated district-wide awareness campaign promoting what businesses are doing to best ensure a clean, safe, and comfortable environment and experience.

Promote social distancing and good hygiene.

Work to ensure social distancing and good hygiene measures are visible to customers. For example:
- Plexiglass at the checkout counter
- Signage reminding patrons to maintain a 6-foot cushion
- Markings on the floor to show six feet of separation
- Hand sanitizers on counters
- The use of colorful/customized face masks and gloves, etc.
Even after regulatory social distancing measures and guidelines are eased or rescinded, it’s highly likely that patrons will be hesitant, at best, to intermingle or engage with crowds. As a good business practice, be ready to maintain and promote social distancing and good hygiene measures well after guidelines are in force.

Devise a plan for limiting access.

Develop a plan to limit access to your facility to maintain social distancing spacing and gatherings of 10 people or less, or per state or municipal guidelines in force.
Refer to guidelines and capacity limits for event venues and other gathering places.
Consider maintaining practices even after regulatory requirements lapse to enhance your customers’ comfort level.

Continue to ramp-up your online presence.

A heightened online presence will continue to be important throughout all phases of your own COVID-19 recovery effort – and beyond.
Use a virtual tip jar that provides viewers and participants to support live stream performances and performers, class instructors, etc.

Promote virtual experiences.

Many arts and cultural-based enterprises and groups have already begun offering virtual tours, galleries, events and other activities that have introduced locals and prospective visitors to new experiences and assets too often overlooked, yet so important to a vibrant district. Organizations and facilities adapting these virtual experiences would appear to be better positioned to sustain operations during the pandemic and beyond.

Host virtual performances and cash mob events.

Building on virtual experiences, organize and host virtual concerts, vignettes, cash mob events and other activities with a virtual tip jar to help support your organization and local artists, and to promote upcoming activities and events.

Host online classes.

Online classes that include hands-on activities or experiences from the comfort of your members’ and participants’ homes provide an escape and serve as a reason to join or continue their membership.
These events could also provide opportunities to partner with local businesses to supply participants with materials or props that may be needed to fully participate (i.e. children’s quarantine kits with crafting supplies, activity books, etc.).

Outdoor make & take activities.

Organize RSVP-only make & take activities in small groups held in outdoor community spaces to maintain social distancing while allowing people to re-emerge and rediscover the district, and enjoy a heightened sense of community.
Like online classes, these activities also provide great opportunities to partner with district businesses to supply needed materials.

Host outdoor performances.

Organize and host smaller-scale outdoor performances in spaces where attendees can spread out or enjoy as they walk by (from a safe and comfortable distance).
Live stream performances to help reassure those still hesitant to venture out that the district is open for business, and to show attendees enjoying its comforts.

Stage grand re-opening entertainment.

Partner with your local Main Street organization, Chamber of Commerce or other organizations and businesses to stage entertainment highlighting local talent and serving as the backdrop for district-wide reopening activities.

Take care of your staff and volunteers.

Provide appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and training for staff and volunteers. Be sure to enact sound wellness policies as well, such as requiring a temperature check prior to beginning each work or volunteer shift.
Invest in a contactless thermometer to administer staff and volunteer temperature checks.

Assess staffing levels and engage your employees.

Assess staffing requirements, and salary and wage levels for frontline staff; and continuously involve employees in the planning and implementation of reopening and recovery strategies. They can be your best advocates!

Stay in the information loop.

Be alert to state and local updates, and plug-in and work collaboratively with fellow businesses and local business organizations (i.e. Main Street, Chamber of Commerce, etc.) and networking groups.