OC Arts Community Reeling from Cancellations

OC ARTS COMMUNITY REELING FROM COVID-19 CANCELLATIONS

Following the announcement by California Governor Gavin Newsom proscribing non-essential large gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19, arts & culture organizations and venues statewide--including Orange County--scrambled to postpone and cancel performances, exhibitions, classes, and galas. "Arts Orange County, which operates the SparkOC.com arts calendar website, immediately posted an advisory for patrons to check with their event venues for changes and began to collect information to update their listings on the site," commented ArtsOC President & CEO Rick Stein. "We have also been fielding questions from arts leaders about what other organizations are doing and what resources might be available to assist them in recovering from the inevitable financial fallout from such mass cancellations. We are including the information we have so far in this newsletter. Our own organization has been affected as well."

IMAGINATION CELEBRATION, DÍA DEL NIÑO & VOICES READING OFF

Arts Orange County has cancelled its spring events: the 35th Annual IMAGINATION CELEBRATION, originally scheduled for April 18-May 31, 2020, its 9th Annual Día del Niño festival, originally slated for April 18-19, 2020, and its May 9th free public reading by its VOICES: Veterans Storytelling Project, in response to health concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak. At the present time, it has not been determined whether these events can be re-scheduled in 2020. (No decision has been made yet about the "1,000 Pieces of Art" Exhibition, a flagship activity of the IMAGINATION CELEBRATION that takes place at South Coast Plaza from April 30-May 17, 2020, displaying the works of Pre-K to High School students from throughout Orange County.)

The 2020 IMAGINATION CELEBRATION, presented in collaboration with the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE), was to consist of 77 events in 18 Orange County cities. Many of the individual events, which are independently produced by local organizations, schools and cities, have already been postponed or cancelled, and OCDE has cancelled through at least April 3 all non-essential large gatherings.

The Día del Niño festival, presented in collaboration with Media Arts Santa Ana (MASA), is a two-day festival of arts and hands-on arts engagement experiences commemorating the Latin-American holiday that honors the role of the child in family and society. It was to take place at OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC) during its Imaginology festival that same weekend. OCFEC has announced the cancellation of Imaginology, as well as many other events scheduled at its facilities this spring.

The VOICES: Veterans Storytelling Project, presented in collaboration with Heroes Hall Veterans Museum at OCFEC, is a free "virtual" writing workshop for military veterans. The spring session, which has already begun, will continue to take place, but the free public reading scheduled for May 9, 2020, is now cancelled.

PARTIAL LIST OF OC ARTS EVENT CANCELLATIONS

Venues that we know have cancelled some or all events in the coming weeks so far are included in the list below, followed by a list of those that have not yet announced changes. Updates are being made on our SparkOC.com as quickly as possible. Please advise us of any errors or new information.

Cancellations/Postponements:

Bowers Museum - Events on 3/21 and 4/4 cancelled. Museum open (see below)

California State University, Fullerton - College of the Arts events

CSUF Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana

Casa Romantica: (as of 3-13-20) art gallery & gardens open normal hours, but cultural events cancelled or postponed through 3/31.

Chance Theater: (as of 3-13-20) Canceling this weekend's Chance-a-thon fundraiser; Canceling our upcoming productions of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity and Actually

OC Fair & Event Center - (as of 3-13-20)

Orange County Market Place - weekends, canceled for March

VOLTA by Cirque du Soleil - March 18-April 19, suspended; possibly postponed

Crossroads of the West Gun Show - March 21-22, canceled

OC Science and Engineering Fair - March 24-26, canceled

AAOC Trade Show and Conference - March 26, postponed; date TBD

Mom Made Market - March 28-29, postponed; date TBD

Flying Miz Daisy Vintage Market - March 28-29, canceled

Car Lab - March 28-29, canceled

California Bridal & Wedding Expo - March 29, canceled

First Robotics Competition - April 2-4, canceled

Autism Fragile X Foundation Autism Parade - April 11, canceled

Imaginology - April 17-19, canceled

SoCal Sanitary Supply Show - May 6, canceled

Goat Yoga Experience - May 9, canceled

Voices: Veterans Storytelling Project - May 9, canceled

OC PolyFest - May 9-10, canceled

FamFest - June 20-21, canceled

Heritage Museum of Orange County: public programs cancelled but remains open to visitors

Huntington Beach Art Center: opening & closing receptions for Creative Visions exhibition cancelled, exhibition remains on view through end of month

Irvine Barclay Theatre: (as of 3-13-20) canceled all performances through Sunday, April 12, 2020.

Laguna Art Museum: (as of 3-13-20) closed through April 2 "at least."

Laguna Playhouse: (as of 3-13-20) all performances cancelled until further notice.

Mission San Juan Capistrano: St. Joseph's Day event cancelled, but Mission and gardens remain open to visitors

The Muckenthaler Cultural Center: (as of 3-13-20) 3/29 festival cancelled, but remains open to visitors
Musco Center for the Arts: (as of 3-13-20) canceled all performances through early May 2020.

Orange County Women's Chorus: (as of 3-13-20) canceled March 2020 concerts.

Pacific Chorale: (as of 3-13-20) canceled the Songs of the Soul concert at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church on Saturday, March 21, 2020.

Pacific Symphony: (as of 3-13-20) canceled all performances through March 31, 2020.

Philharmonic Society of Orange County: (as of 3-13-20) canceled performances through March 31, 2020.

Pretend City: School Readiness Fair cancelled

Segerstrom Center for the Arts: (as of 3-13-20) canceled performances through March 31, 2020.

Soka Performing Arts Center & University: (as of 3-13-20) all remaining Soka Performing Arts Center performances this season have been canceled as well as Soka University's International Festival on May 2, 2020.

South Coast Repertory: (as of 3-13-20) all performances of "Outside Mullingar" are canceled; the 2020-21 Season Announcement event scheduled for Monday, March 16 has been canceled; the NewSCRipts reading scheduled for Monday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. is postponed until further notice; and spring session classes in the SCR Theatre Conservatory will continue as scheduled.

UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts events

UC Irvine's Institute and Museum of California Art: (as of 3-13-20) public programs (docent tours, school visits and guided group visits) canceled through March 31, 2020; new requests for public programs will not be accepted through April 30, 2020; IMCA is currently open.

These organizations have currently have not yet announced a change to their schedule:

Bowers Museum

Hilbert Museum
Muzeo

Newport Beach Film Festival
Orange County Center for Contemporary Art

RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS & ARTS ORGANIZATIONS - ArtsOC.org

ARTS & CULTURAL EVENTS + CALLS FOR ARTISTS + AUDITIONS + JOBS + CLASSES + VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - SparkOC.com

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Are you a California artist or arts organization being affected by COVID-19? If you anticipate a loss of income due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we encourage you to please fill out this brief survey to inform the California Arts Council and the state of the potential financial impacts for the arts field. Make your voice heard by contributing to this important resource for California!

FOR CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL GRANTEES IMPACTED BY COVID-19

The California Arts Council (CAC) has received inquiries from grantees and members of the arts community at large regarding COVID-19. The CAC recognizes that some of its grantees and contractors will have to postpone, modify, or cancel their planned activities supported by CAC funds due to state and local public health guidelines. If you are a grantee and your organization is impacted, please complete this form detailing your specific circumstance and request. The CAC is prepared to find solutions on a case-by-case basis. We ask for your patience in receiving individual responses.

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS APPLICANTS & GRANTEES:

The National Endowment for the Arts is focused on and closely monitoring COVID-19 and its effect on the arts community, and stands ready to assist our applicants and awardees in the coming weeks and months. It has prepared the following FAQ sheet.

CAL HUMANITIES APPLICANTS & GRANTEES:

Cal Humanties is committed to flexibility for grantees who need to reschedule events due to public health concerns. Grantees should make event decisions that meet the needs of their audiences, staff, and board. In the event of postponement or cancellation, we request that project directors notify us as quickly as possible so that we may update our records and calendar. We understand that program cancellations may delay interim and final reports. Therefore, we will consider extending grant periods by up to six months. Please contact your program officer to discuss this option. Details here.

ASK THE GOVERNOR FOR RELIEF

As opportunities for federal and state relief become available, your elected officials will likely be key partners in helping you to gain access, so it is doubly important to tend to these relationships now by initiating a conversation on this topic. Californians for the Arts urges the arts community to let Governor Newsom know NOW about the impact COVID-19 has had on them through this quick and easy link.

MARCH 17TH WORKSHOP ON NEW LABOR LAW AB 5

WILL GO VIRTUAL INSTEAD

Due to concerns over CoVID-19 infection and social-distancing, the G3X Lecture on AB5 has been changed to a FREE Live-Streamed Zoom Webinar. This is an opportunity for those who did not get tickets because it was filled to capacity. If you registered on Eventbrite, DO NOT show up at the Village in Santa Ana. No one will be there. To participate, log-on Tuesday, March 17 at 9 AM HERE.

Co-sponsored with the Orange County Community Foundation

& the Public Law Center

California Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) extends employee classification status to gig workers. Companies must use a three-pronged test to prove workers are independent contractors, not employees. AB5 is designed to regulate companies that hire gig workers in large numbers, such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash but are making big waves with arts groups, truckers and many more. What does this law (and the supreme court decision behind it) mean to the social sector? Find out with Public Law Center's Community Organizations Legal Assistance Project.

Arts Orange County is the leader in building appreciation of, participation in and support for the arts and arts education throughout Orange County.

It is a powerhouse in advancing Orange County's arts ecology, a trailblazer in advocating workforce development through arts education, a leader in building future audiences and a trendsetter in the world of nonprofit arts councils.