COVID-19 Response

Now, more than ever, we're here to help

AACT is committed to helping theatres find needed answers amid the current global health crisis.

AACT Online Discussion Groups

AACT's COVID-19 Community Theatre Resource Facebook Group is an open group that connects the theatre community for resource-sharing
A closed-group discussion is available through our email-based AACTList. (You must be signed in as an organizational member to subscribe).

AACT Resource Roster

Our member Resource Roster is available to the entire theatre community for several months.
When you contact the Resource Roster, AACT will work to connect you with a professional or expert in community theatre to help you with any theatrical issue/question..

Ask Congress to fully support the arts and all workers during the pandemic and beyond
Performing Arts Alliance has provided an editable draft of a note for your personalization

Webinars & Roundtables

Webinars

Friday, August 14: Stage Management & COVID-19
Special Training Session Thursday, August 20: Fostering an Inclusive Theatre
Friday, August 28: Creating Food Props with Silicone Clay
Videos of all recent AACT webinars

AACT Member Roundtables

Tuesday, August 18: All-Volunteer Theatres: Marketing & Communications
Tuesday, August 25: Paid-Staff Theatres: Open Topic
Tuesday, September 8: All-Volunteer Theatres: Reopening Strategies

News, Resources & Inspiration

Production-Related New York Times: "Godspell 2020 - The first professional musical staged in the U.S. since theater shutdown is also a de facto public health experiment.” (PDF) Participation waiver for volunteers that releases and waives all rights and claims against a theatre for all losses, damages and injuries of any kind. Also a force majeure addendum to contracts for guest directors. Both are in MS Word (.docx) format. Arts Consulting Group: Summer Reimagined - How Arts and Culture Festivals Responded to the Pandemic San Francisco Chronicle: Beyond Zoom plays: The future of theater in the age of coronavirus Actors’ Equity Association: 4 core principals to support safe and healthy theater production Online Activities for Theatre Kids. Ideas from AACT for keeping theatre in the minds & hearts of kids (& their parents) 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] Broadway Licensing Dramatic Publishing Dramatists Play Service Eldridge Plays & Musicals written to be performed online Pioneer Drama Virual Theatre 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 DC Theatre Scene: How to produce and attend Zoom shows Times of San Diego: Making Theater When Zoom is Center Stage Pocket-lint.com: Recording better video with your smartphone How to upload 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 Lawrence Ragan Communications: 10 tips for helpful, comforting staff COVID-19 communications PR News: Internal Communication Tips to Help Navigate COVID-19 PR Daily: 8 tips for handling communications during and after Covid-19 U.S. Chamber of Commerce: 9 Experts on How to Communicate With Customers During Coronavirus 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 Ordway Center for the Performing Arts (St. Paul, MN) 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 (PDF) created by the Colorado Nonprofit Association Bernstein Crisis Management: The 10 Steps of Crisis Communications
Management & Finances		Arts & Nonprofits
FINANCIAL RESOURCES GrantWatch: Coronavirus COVID-19 grants, loans, funding opportunities and financial assistance 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) Risk & Insurance Magazine: COVID-19 and Business Interruption: How Insurance Can and Cannot Mitigate Losses MANAGEMENT/GUIDANCE Hytropy Reverse Disaster Offers Gold Disaster Plan Mayo Clinic: Psychological First Aid--Resiliency in Times of Stress (PDF) 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 Donorbox: Top Funding Sources for Nonprofits and Charities 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 AP: Internet jammed up? Try these steps New York Times: Do's and Don'ts of Online Video Meetings Google Meet is free. Microsoft Teams offers a free version Zoom online meetings & presentations basic-level app is free, with free support.		THEATRE/ARTS RESOURCES NASAA: Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes (Centers for Disease Control) NASAA: States and COVID-19: Arts Reopening, Equity Strategies and More 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 Google: Resources to help your nonprofit navigate uncertainty FEMA: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Private Nonprofit Organizations National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA: Virtual Advocacy Chronicle of Philanthropy: Special Report - Help for Nonprofits During the Coronavirus and Uncertain Economic Times Bloomerang: Essential Advice and Resources for Nonprofits – COVID-19 Bridgespan: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources for Nonprofits 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 WhatsApp: How WhatsApp can help you stay connected during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic Facebook: Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources on 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 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 Mayo Clinic: Psychological First Aid--Resiliency in Times of Stress (PDF) 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

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COVID-19 Response

You are here

Now, more than ever, we're here to help

AACT Online Discussion Groups

AACT Resource Roster

Webinars & Roundtables

News, Resources & Inspiration

Production-Related

Communications Management

Management & Finances

Arts & Nonprofits

Medical Information & Media Coverage