COVID-19 Response

Upcoming Webinars

>> Videos of recent AACT webinars <<

Production-Related

• Online Activities for Theatre Kids. Ideas from AACT for keeping theatre in the minds & hearts of kids (& their parents)
• Many theatres are 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 RIGHTS
  • Check out upcoming and recorded AACT webinars that focus on streaming
  • Music Theatre International.  Also, see FAQs.
  • Concord Theatricals [Samuel French, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Tams-Witmark, The Musical Company]  Read more.
  • Broadway Licensing
  • Dramatic Publishing
  • Dramatists Play Service
  • Pioneer Drama
  • Playscripts
•   STREAMING BASICS
• YouTube: How to Make Videos with your Phone
• Vulture Media: What It’s Like to Act in a New Play Over Zoom, and Set on Zoom (Note: Basic-level Zoom is free)
• DC Theatre Scene: Avoid Zoombombing and other tips on how to produce and attend Zoom shows
• Times of San Diego: The Challenges of Making Theater When Zoom is Center Stage
• Pocket-lint.com: 10 tips for recording better video with your smartphone
• Find how-to information on uploading video to YouTube, Vimeo, etc.

Communications Management

• COMMUNICATION TIPS & TOOLS
  •  Arts Consulting Group: Keeping in Touch with Key Constituents - A Communication Check List during Times of Crisis
  • Map & Fire: Analysis And Examples Of All Fortune 100 Companies’ Brand Messaging For COVID-19
  • 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
• SAMPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • Letter to community from Venice Theatre
  • Goodman Theatre Company (Chicago), short statement
  • Granada [CA] Theatre's extensive page/statement
  • Announcements from five AACT-member theatres (PDF)
  • Google Search Results: Announcements and stories on impact of COVID-19 on individual theatres
• GENERAL GUIDANCE
  • ArtsReady Guide to support arts organizations
  • Crisis Communications Plan created by the Colorado Nonprofit Association.
  • Bernstein Crisis Management: "The 10 Steps of Crisis Communications"

Management & Finances

Arts & Nonprofits

•  ABC News: What's your state's coronavirus reopening plan? A state-by-state listing
• Planning for What Comes Next: Comments from performing arts organizations around the U.S.
   
• FINANCIAL RESOURCES
  • GrantWatch: Coronavirus COVID-19 grants, loans, funding opportunities and financial assistance for artists, communities, nonprofit organizations and businesses.
  • Nonprofit Finance Fund: COVID-19 Tools and Resources for Nonprofits
  • Candid: Funds for Coronavirus Relief by geographic area served
  • FEMA: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Private Nonprofit Organizations
  • Treasury Department: CARES Paycheck Protection Program
  • ArtsReady: "How to Access CARES Relief Funding"
  • ArtsReady: "Guide to Government Relief for Arts Organizations and Individual Artists"
  • Nonprofit Quarterly: "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)
  • 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
  • Arts Consulting Group: "Nine Steps Arts and Culture Leaders Can Take to Overcome a Crisis"
  • 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"
  • "Washington Post: (March 19): "The Virus Has Arts Groups Hanging by a Thread: Michael M. Kaiser Has Ideas About Saving Them" (PDF)
• FUNDRAISING
  • Raising Funds in the COVID-19 Era - Candid's free, online webinar to help your nonprofit navigate fundraising during the pandemic
  • Article: "Four Ways for Community-Focused Philanthropy to Confront the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Crisis" 
  • 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
  • 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
  • ArtsReady, an online emergency preparedness service by and for arts/cultural nonprofits
  • 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
  • Stage Directors and Choreographers Society:  Coronavirus Resource List
  • Backstage: COVID-19 Resources for Actors, Creators + Performing Artists
  • Playbill: Coronavirus Updates
• NONPROFIT RESOURCES
  • Bloomerang: Essential Advice and Resources for Nonprofits – COVID-19
  • Bridgespan: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources for Nonprofits
  • Chronicle of Philanthropy: Updated Daily - Help for Nonprofits During the Coronavirus and Uncertain Economic Times
  • Google: Resources to help your nonprofit navigate uncertainty
  • 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
  • Norton: Coronavirus Phishing Emails: How to protect against COVID-19 scams
  • WhatsApp: "How WhatsApp can help you stay connected during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic"
  • Facebook:
    • Business Resource Hub: "Managing through and building resilience during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak"
    • "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
  • 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. Note: It may be faster to do a web search for "[name of state or city] COVID-19"

• NATIONAL MEDIA
  • 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"
  • CDC: How to Properly Wash Your Hands