COVID-19 Response

COVID-19 Survey for Community Theatres
Tell us how you're responding to COVID-19, and what help & services you may need

Video: COVID-19 Recovery Webinar for Community Theatres
Restarting Your Operations, Marketing Your Theatre after the Pandemic. & Maintaining Preparations in the "New Normal."  
Presented by AACT & Hytropy Reverse Disaster
Recorded  03/31/2020

< Hytropy Offers AACT Members a Free Gold Disaster Plan >

Production-Related

• Several theatres report using Zoom for online rehearsals & education. Basic-level Zoom is free, with free support.
• CANCELLATIONS & POSTPONEMENTS
  • Music Theatre International
  • Concord Theatricals [Samuel French, Rodgers & Hammerstein,
    Tams-Witmark, The Musical Company]
  • Broadway Licensing
  • Dramatic Publishing
  • Dramatists Play Service
  • Pioneer Drama
  • Stage Rights
• STREAMING
  • Music Theatre International offers a limited license to stream certain shows for amateur productions that were licensed before March 12, 2020.  See FAQs.
  • Concord Theatricals [Samuel French, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Tams-Witmark, The Musical Company] will send your proposal for streaming and video rights to the author’s representatives for approval on a case-by-case basis.  Read more.
  • Broadway Licensing: "We have a growing list of titles that have been approved for live-streaming."
  • Dramatic Publishing: " We will work on your behalf to secure rights when requested in writing. Most, but not all, rights holders have agreed thus far."
  • Dramatists Play Service: "We will do our best to get you an answer from our authors and their representatives as soon as possible."
  • Pioneer Drama offers rights for live streaming, or streaming of a recorded performance.
  • Playscripts offers a list of plays approved for live streaming

Communications Management

• SAMPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • Letter to community from Venice Theatre, discussing closure, refunds, financial impact, and suggestion to donate cost of tickets for cancelled performances back to the theatre relief fund.
  • Goodman Theatre Company (Chicago), short statement
  • Granada [CA] Theatre's extensive page/statement
  • Announcements & policies from five AACT-member theatres (PDF)
  • Google Search Results: Announcements and stories on impact of COVID-19 on individual theatres
• COMMUNICATION TIPS
  • BoardSource: "How Nonprofits and Board Members Can Respond to COVID-19"
  • 5W Public Relations Company: "Crisis Communications for Coronavirus & COVID-19"
  • The Communications Network: Coronavirus Communications Triage Kit
• GENERAL GUIDANCE
  • ArtsReady Guide to support arts organizations; including the importance of communicating with audiences and stakeholders
  • Crisis Communications Plan created by the Colorado Nonprofit Association was created for any major emergency, and is intended to be used as a template for organizations to adapt and implement.
  • Bernstein Crisis Management: "The 10 Steps of Crisis Communications"

Management & Finances

Arts & Nonprofits

• FINANCIAL RESOURCES
  • Nonprofit Quarterly (March 26): "How Nonprofits Can Utilize the New Federal Laws Dealing with COVID-19"
  • U.S. Small Business Administration: COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources (nonprofits are eligible)
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Coronavirus Emergency Loans Guide & Checklist for Small Businesses & Nonprofits
  • Labor Agency Chart: Benefits for Workers Impacted by COVID-19
  • Risk & Insurance Magazine: "COVID-19 and Business Interruption: How Insurance Can and Cannot Mitigate Losses"
• GENERAL GUIDANCE
  • Washington Post: (March 19): "The Virus Has Arts Groups Hanging by a Thread: Michael M. Kaiser Has Ideas About Saving Them" (PDF)
  • Article: What Will Make People Feel Safe Attending a Cultural Entity Again?
  • Article: "Financial Leadership in the Face of Impossible Choices"
  • Article: "From Sustainability to Survivability: How Nonprofits Can Manage Uncertainty Amid Crisis"
• FUNDRAISING
  • Article: "10 Things Fundraisers Can Do From Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic"
  • Article: "How to (Quickly) Mobilize Volunteers to Maximize Nonprofit Fundraising During COVID-19"
  • Article: " 5 Stages of Grief: You, Fundraising, and Covid-19
  • Bloomerang: COVID-19 Fundraising Advice
  • San Francisco Chronicle (March 22): "Shelter-in-place restrictions force nonprofits to find new ways of fundraising"
  • Grantmakers in the Arts: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Arts Funding
  • Article: "Principles of Fundraising: The Coronavirus and Philanthropy"
• REMOTE WORKING
  • World Economic Forum: "How to navigate the transition to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic"
  • AP: "Home internet jammed up? Try these steps"
  • New York Times: "Do's and Don'ts of Online Video Meetings"
  • Google Hangouts Premium is free through July 1.
  • Microsoft Teams is available for free for six months.
  • GoToMeeting is also offering their remote work tools free for three months.
  • Zoom online meetings & presentations basic-level app is free, with free support.

• THEATRE/ARTS RESOURCES
  • National Guild for Community Arts Education: Online COVID-19 Conversations and Workshops
  • National Endowment for the Arts COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Organizations
  • Americans for the Arts COVID-19 Resource Page (including Coronavirus-related Economic Impact)
  • sgEngage Resources to Guide Arts & Cultural Organizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • SETC (Southeastern Theatre Conference) COVID-19 Theatre Resources
  • Association of Performing Arts Presenters: Action Alert
  • American Theatre: "In the Midst of Crisis, ‘Theatre Is a Form of Knowledge’"
  • Playbill: Coronavirus Updates
• NONPROFIT RESOURCES
  • National Council of Nonprofits: "Nonprofits and Coronavirus, COVID-19"
  • Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak: Resources to Help Nonprofits"
  • Nonprofit Risk Management Center: "COVID-19: Five Things to Know and Do"
  • Network for Good: COVID-19 Resources for Nonprofits
  • Independent Sector: A curated list of resources and articles
• TOOLS
  • WhatsApp: "How WhatsApp can help you stay connected during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic"
  • Facebook:
    • "How to host FacebookLive online events and stay connected"
    • Facebook Live with Donate Button
    • Facebook Stories Donation Sticker
    • Facebook Groups: Public, closed or secret
    • Messenger: Make 1:1 and group voice and video calls with coworkers, administrators and partners
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources on Facebook
  • Instagram: Donation Sticker
  • Workplace for Good (free to all nonprofits)

Medical Information & Media Coverage

• FEDERAL, STATE & LOCAL
  • U.S. Government COVID-19 Response Plan PDF (March 17)
  • The Center for Disease Control (CDC) central hub of updated information
  • CDC guidance for businesses and employers
  • Links to state and local health agencies for location-specific guidance (It may be faster to do a web search for "[name of state or city] COVID-19")

• NATIONAL MEDIA
  • New York Times: "F.A.Q. on Stimulus Checks, Unemployment and the Coronavirus Plan"
  • The New York Times is providing free access to the most important news and useful guidance on the coronavirus outbreak
  • National Geographic Special Edition Coronavirus Coverage
  • National Public Radio Health News
  • Science Magazine: "Coronavirus: Research, Commentary, and News"