COVID-19 information for AMaGA members

AMaGA is concerned about the growing impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and it's potential impact to Australian cultural arts and heritage.

AMaGA will continue to monitor news and advice from government and world health sources with regards to these impacts, and will keep members up to date on key decisions.

This page will be updated regularly.

World Health and Government Resources

• World Health Organisation - Information and guidance from WHO regarding the current outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that was first reported from Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019
• Australian Government - Department of Health -  resource page includes what you should know about the virus, situation updates, travel restrictions and resources and fact sheets for travellers, businesses, and others.  

State and Territory Health Department Information

• Queensland Health
• NSW Health 
• Victoria - Department of Health and Human Services
• SA Health
• ACT Health
• WA Department of Health
• Tasmanian Department of Health
• Northern Territory Department of Health 

Workplace and Business Continuity Resources

• Australian Government - Department of Health - Information for Employers
• Safework Australia - Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Advice for PCBUs (persons conducting a business or undertaking)
• Harvard Business Review - Article - Lead your Business through the Coronavirus Crisis
• Not for Profit Law: Justice Connect COVID-19 Response Briefing Note: Guidance for the not-for-profit sector. This paper aims to provide guidance to community organisations on some of the most pressing issues raised by COVID-19, including employment, contracts and insurance.
• Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) Charity Operations and COVID-19 advice page. Providing information on meetings and responsibilities of charities during the health crisis i.e. AGMs, Annual Information Statement Submissions and fundraisers.

AMaGA's Response

• COVID-19 and the National Conference
• Alex Marsden on ABC Canberra regarding COVID-19 and our cultural institutions (18/3/20)
• Alex Marsden on ABC Canberra regarding the closure of the NGA (23/3/20)
• WA Branch Update (23/3/20)
• President's Message (25/3/20)

Summary:

• The National Conference has been POSTPONED until 28 - 31 October. Get the latest details on the AMaGA2020 website.
• Your first port of call for all information regarding COVID-19 is the Australian Government Department of Health website, and/or the equivalent in your state or territory
• The National Awards (MAGNAs) remain open for entries until 10 August and the MAPDA entries have been extended until 31 July. We will decide on the best course of action whether it be a standalone event when it is safe to do so, or an alternative
• State/Territory events will be cancelled as required - keep an eye out on your branch bulletins for more information
• Our webinar series will go ahead as scheduled and continue to provide skills development which you can access from home
• AMaGA will be sending out more information on the impact of COVID-19 in the sector as it becomes available
• A survey will be sent to members which aims to collect information on the impact of the pandemic to cultural institutions and their activities.

COVID-19 Support and Funding

• $5million Resilience Fund from the Australian Council for the Arts
• Federal JobKeeper Stimulus funding
• Lotterywest (Western Australia only) - updates on available funding during COVID-19. Future funding is planned to support community groups that have suffered financial loss due to cancelled events.

News

• Blue Shield and AICCM have compiled a list of cultural institutions and sites closed due to COVID-19
• ArtsHub have all their COVID-19 stories available subscription-free - This list includes closures and responses by museums and galleries
• WA Government closes arts and cultural institutions (23/3/20)
• Museums, galleries and libraries are to close from Wednesday 25 March

Advocacy and Sector Responses

Here are links to what our partner associations and cultural organisations are doing. We are working very closely with these organisations on coordinated responses on advocacy and actions.

• Joint Statement from M&G QLD and M&G NSW
• Australia Council for the Arts
• National Association of Visual Arts 
  Along with all their extraordinary advocacy work for visual arts and artists, NAVA have developed a survey for arts workers to assess the impact of COVID-19. They have also developed an Advocacy Toolkit.
• Museums Aotearoa
  Our New Zealand Aotearoa colleagues have a page of resources available. They have postponed their national conference.
  See what Aotearoa are doing regarding security of collections during the lockdown
• Australian Library and Information Association
  How ALIA and Australian libraries are responding to the crisis
• UK Museums Association - coronavirus impact on museums 
• American Alliance of Museums - Information for the Museum Field on the COVID-19/Coronavirus
• The Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO)
• The Indigenous Art Code have collaborated with other peak bodies to provide clear information about Federal financial support and assistance packages relevant to Indigenous art centres, collectives and individual artists

Collection and Management Resources

• Closed by COVID-19 - Blue Shield Australia and AICCM have developed a checklist for GLAM organisations and historical and heritage sites to provide guidance for those responsible for closing collections. 
• Public Health Emergencies - COSTEP MA - US state advice for cultural institutions, including collection care
• Pandemic Management Strategy for Associations - Template

What Museums and Galleries are Doing

Museums and galleries should refer to their state/territory directives regarding closures or restrictions. 

Museums and galleries are meeting places and, as such, have a high risk potential for spreading the virus and have therefore been directed by the Federal Government to close to the public.

Closures, both internationally and nationally, have however resulted in some innovative and creative ways of sharing collections, and even engaging the public, via digital pathways. Check back here, or follow us on Facebook, for our favourite programs from around the world. Hopefully you can use some of these as models for your own museum or gallery.

• Nearly every one of your favourite museums and galleries will have parts of their collections online. Check out their website for an Explore or Our Collection button and immerse yourself
• How Museums Can Help the Public Make Sense of Pandemics
  The Smithsonian Institute on how museums are educators and communicators, and how to make your own 'Outbreak' exhibition
• Plan your museum’s COVID-19 response according to three scenarios advice from the AAM