COVID-19 Update

For safety protocols, click here
Emerging from the wings, and returning to the art studio
A Message from Executive Director Suzanne Haines.

September 15, 2020

This Fall, we are carefully moving forward in partnership with our community and venue partners to return live music to the stage, and educational classes to the arts studio. With safety as our number 1 guidepost, we have spent the past few months planning for our return. From working with industry partners, conducting multiple site tours, surveying our community, researching best practices, following all developments in public health safety and gathering mandates, this has been a rigorous process for our entire team. All of this comes together today as we announce the first of our Fall 2020 in-person programming. This includes new venue spaces, a revised set of educational classes, a free family outdoor performing arts event, and a live in-person concert with a live stream option. All of these include a robust set of safety protocols to welcome you when you feel ready to join us.

We are taking the show on the road!

To add to this new normal, we’re now officially offsite from our regular home at 22 Church Street. The Town of Aurora will shortly embark on the investment in cultural infrastructure in the downtown core in the Library Square construction project. But unlike the pandemic, we had plenty of advance-planning for this move! Our team continues to work remotely at the moment as our Administrative Offices, future Programming Room and Gallery Exhibition space are located in the Aurora Town Hall which remains closed. We will operate from Town Hall for the duration of the construction project. For the Fall, we are thrilled to present a special free family event at the Aurora Town Park, and our in-person educational and concert programming at the Aurora Armoury.

Our venue partners have spent the past few months building safety protocols based on all public health directives. We have incorporated their best practices into our own extensive industry research to create a set of safety guidelines to help you feel confident and secure when you return to us. We’ll communicate with you regularly – before a class or event and in person, and ask for your feedback on your experience. Together, we can support the return to in-person arts experiences.

If we need to shift again this Fall season, we will. We understand that the health crisis may change, and we are prepared to respond rapidly to new safety measures and shut-downs, as required. For those of you who previously bought from us this past Winter and Spring, you know first-hand that we are responsive and quick to process refunds, and refund-to-gift-cards. We will refund tickets prior to performance should you not feel up to attending, and pro-rate refunds for classes as well. These are exceptional circumstances this season, and our Box Office will respond in kind.

We can’t thank you enough for your words of encouragement, and commitment to expression through the arts through these past few difficult months. It has meant the world to us. In the meantime, please take a moment to update yourself on our COVID-19 protocols for Education and Performing Arts. Then enjoy pursuing our upcoming programs. We can’t wait to see you.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Haines
Executive Director, and the Aurora Cultural Centre Team

Safety Protocols Video: Education
Safety Protocols Video: Performing Arts

Health and Safety Measures

The health and safety of our patrons is extremely important to us.  We are continuously working with artists, instructors, partners, staff and volunteers and will communicate with patrons regarding the status of upcoming events and programs. As public health guidelines evolve, we will update our processes accordingly, and communicate them to you. Please scroll down below this message for further health and safety protocols specific to registered educational programs and performing arts events.

What you can expect from us this Fall?

Physical Distancing

  • All patrons, students, volunteers, contractors and staff will maintain a physical distance of 2 meters. Further guidelines can be found below under each specific program.

Masks/Face Coverings/Plexi-Glas Safety Shields

  • Masks/face coverings are mandatory for entry into any inside venues, unless you have a medical reason not to wear one as per York Region Public Health guidelines.
  • PPE in the form of non-medical paper masks will be available for patrons, students or instructors who fail to provide their own, at no charge.
  • York Region Public Health safety signage will be placed throughout the venue.
  • All persons entering the venue must wear a face covering that securely covers the nose, mouth and chin.
  • See York Region’s Mandatory Use of Face Masks and Coverings for more information and exceptions.
  • Performing artists inside and outside will perform behind Plexi-Glas safety shields

Contact Tracing

  • As mandated by York Region all students, instructors, patrons, musicians, technical support staff, Centre staff and volunteers will be required to provide their name, phone number and contact email addresses for contact tracing purposes.
  • This information will be kept on file for 30 days after the event, after which it will be destroyed.
  • This information will be provided to York Region Public Health in the event of an outbreak.
  • If you test positive for COVID-19 throughout your program duration, we ask that you inform your local public health unit of your attendance in our class.

Cleaning/Disinfecting

  • Staff will provide cleaning and sanitization of high touch points such as door handles and washroom areas throughout the day.
  • Ample time between classes will allow our team to clean and sanitize high touch points for the next class.
  • Hand sanitizer will be available at the entry/exit points, and in programming and venue spaces.
  • Participants are asked to wash or sanitize their hands upon entry and throughout the program duration.
  • Guidance on Cleaning and Disinfecting for Public Settings has been provided by Public Health Ontario.

We look forward to welcoming you back to a safe environment where you can feel inspired to create. Please read carefully below about our new health and safety protocols as they apply to registered programs. All patrons are required to follow COVID-19 protocols as outlined below. Those who refuse to follow these guidelines will be asked to leave the facility. We appreciate your understanding.

Facility Access/Participant Screening

  • All programs must be pre-registered. Participants will be required to submit registration information at time of purchase. Participants will be unable to “drop in” to any program.
  • Parents/guardians and others accompanying participants will not be permitted into the facility. Participants must be dropped at the door and enter alone to limit the number of individuals that enter the facility.
  • Participants can enter the facility up to 15 minutes prior to their program start time.
  • Participants must leave the program facility within 15 minutes of their program ending.
  • All participants will complete a verbal screening assessment before they enter the program facility.
  • Participants who show any symptoms will be directed to return home and seek medical advice immediately.
  • Instructors, staff and volunteers will pre-screen before they enter the program facility, and will not enter if ill.

Masks/Face Coverings

  • Masks/face coverings are mandatory in our programs unless you have a medical reason not to wear one as per York Region Public Health guidelines.
  • All persons entering the program facility must wear a face covering that securely covers the nose, mouth and chin.
  • See York Region’s Mandatory Use of Face Masks and Coverings for more information and exceptions.

Physical Distancing

  • Class sizes have been reduced to ensure that there is ample physical distance between participant work stations. Most class sizes have a maximum capacity of 10 or smaller.
  • Participants must stay in their designated program area and cannot visit other indoor areas of the facility aside from washrooms.
  • Participants will not be able to congregate in common areas.

Program Supplies

  • Most art supplies are provided by the participant via a materials list to avoid sharing of supplies. Some specialty materials are provided by the instructor for certain workshops. Check individual programs for more information. Where materials are supplied they will be disinfected and sanitized.
  • Participants are asked to bring their own water and water bottles. Water coolers are unavailable.
  • Please limit the number of other items you bring to the program facility. Lost and found items will be kept for a maximum of 24 hours, then disposed.
  • Please label any item or supply you bring into the program facility.
  • Please keep all belongings with you at your workstation, including your coat.

Refunds/Cancellations

  • In accordance with COVID-19 Ontario public health and safety guidelines, a patron who feels unwell or is no longer comfortable attending an in-person event/program can request a full refund by emailing info@auroraculturalcentre.ca.
  • If you are enrolled in a multi-week program and are unable to attend a particular weekly session, you can request a partial refund for the cost of that session by emailing info@auroraculturalcentre.ca.
  • Alternative to a refund, you may instead opt to use the value of the missed session as a credit towards a future program or event by emailing info@auroraculturalcentre.ca.
  • If a program is cancelled by the Centre you will receive a full refund.
  • If you test positive for COVID-19 throughout your program duration, we ask that you inform your local public health unit of your attendance in our class.

We look forward to welcoming you back to a safe environment where you can enjoy live music once again. Please read carefully below about our new health and safety protocols as they apply to events, performances and live stream. All patrons are required to follow COVID-19 protocols as outlined below. Those who refuse to follow these guidelines will be asked to leave the venue. We appreciate your understanding.

Facility Access/Participant Screening

  • Concert tickets will only be sold in advance; no at-door sales are available.
  • Ticket holders will be permitted to the concert facility at the posted time of general admission seating.
  • Ticket holders are requested to exit the facility within 15 minutes of the end of the evening.
  • All ticket holders will receive an email on the day of performance with a series of health screening questions. Those feeling unwell are encouraged to stay at home. These questions will be repeated at time of general admission entry to the concert.
  • Participants who show any symptoms will be directed to return home and seek medical advice immediately.
  • Musicians, technical support staff, Centre staff and volunteers will all pre-screen before they enter the facility, and will not enter if ill.

Masks/Face Coverings/Plexi-Glass Safety Shield

  • Masks/face coverings are mandatory for entry into the venue, unless you have a medical reason not to wear one as per York Region Public Health guidelines.
  • All persons entering the program facility must wear a face covering that securely covers the nose, mouth and chin.
  • Once ticket holders are seated, they may remove their masks while remaining at their table, to facilitate dining and drinking.
  • Ticket holders must don masks any time they get up from their table.
  • All staff, volunteers and technical staff will wear face masks throughout the event.
  • Due to the nature of performance, musicians will not be masked on stage. The musicians will perform behind transparent Plexi-glass shields to prevent the spread of droplets. Patron seating will be physically-distanced from the stage.
  • See York Region’s Mandatory Use of Face Masks and Coverings for more information and exceptions.

Physical Distancing

  • Venue capacity has been significantly reduced to ensure that there is appropriate physical distance of 2 meters.
  • Patrons will be seated at tables, which are physically-distanced by 2 meters from the back of each seat.
  • Patrons are able to sit with their small social circle of up to 3 people per table. Sorry, we are not able to accommodate 4 or more people per table.
  • We are unable to move tables together.
  • Patrons are requested to remain seated during the event, with the exception of visiting the washrooms.
  • Please do not visit the bar; table service will be provided by the venue for drinks and food delivery
  • Patrons will not be able to congregate in common areas. Please follow the directions of the Front of House Manager and event volunteers to move swiftly to your table.

Refunds/Cancellations

  • In accordance with COVID-19 Ontario public health and safety guidelines, a patron who feels unwell or is no longer comfortable attending an in-person event/program can request a full refund by emailing info@auroraculturalcentre.ca.
  • Alternative to a refund, you may instead opt to use the value of the missed event as a credit towards a future program or event by emailing info@auroraculturalcentre.ca.
  • If a program or event is cancelled by the Centre you will receive a full refund.

Live Stream

  • Please note that some events will be live streamed on the web for patrons who have purchased a digital ticket.
  • In cases of events that are recorded for live stream, cameras will be placed on stage. A camera operator will be filming in the event space.