Indie Theater venues and productions have a lot to balance right now. One of the present issues is determining the best policies to maintain the health of artists, staff, and audience members.
The City of New York has provided a few resources that may be helpful for indie theater companies, productions, and venues.
Downloadable Signs for Venues
New York has provided a downloadable Safety Protocol Signage for Cultural Organizations poster that you can print for your venues.
The City-sanctioned signage is available to organizations for use wherever needed. Feel free to share with other venues if it’s helpful for them!
De-Escalation Tips for Public Engagement Webinar
In late April, the Center for Creative Conflict Resolution at the NYC Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, including its Office of Nightlife, hosted an online webinar to share pragmatic and mindful de-escalation tactics for public engagement.
The webinar is published on YouTube and linked below.
Conflict Resolution Tip Sheet
The Center for Creative Conflict Resolution created a tip sheet – Creative Industries and Covid Safety: De-Escalation Tips for Public Engagement that may be helpful for you and your colleagues.
Statements and Links from New York State and New York City
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Mayor Eric Adams have made statements authorizing venues “to require proof of vaccination or masking indoors if they choose.”
View the statement from Governor Kathy Hochul.
View the statement from Mayor Eric Adams.
In general, venues may turn away or eject guests who do not comply with their rules. But venues must allow for reasonable accommodations to their vaccine and mask rules due to a person’s disability or religious belief.
