How are we addressing COVID safety? 

Acknowledging that the pandemic is not over as well as this season’s “tripledemic,” artEquity is committed to providing a space to convene that feels as COVID-aware as possible, respecting the various needs and statuses of all participants. Here is what we plan to do: 

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• Wearing of masks is required during indoor programming. Masks and sanitizer will be available on-site. We have made this determination as an act of community care, and in awareness of those in our group who may be immunocompromised and/or have immunocompromised or vulnerable loved ones in their immediate circle. 

 

• While we will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccinations or negative tests as a prerequisite for attending, we do encourage you to note if you have any new COVID-related symptoms (or a positive test) within 14 days of the gathering, and we recommend re-considering your attendance in an effort to protect the health of others in the group. For extra security, if able, you are encouraged to take a COVID test (PCR or Antigen) just prior to the gathering. If you determine that you will not be attending (due to COVID), your registration fee will be refunded minus the processing fee. Please email alumni@artequity.org as soon as possible to alert us of any change in your attendance.

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• No participant will be required to take part in any activity that makes them feel unsafe, nor will we tolerate any judgment or harassment connected to the choice to wear (or not wear) a mask during our sessions. 

 

While on-site in New Orleans, in addition to masks and sanitizer, we will:

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• Have no-contact thermometers available for temperature checks in the event that a participant feels ill and wants to check for a fever, as well as a limited number of COVID-19 rapid tests for participants to use. 

• We will provide different colored community care buttons for participants based on your level of comfort with proximity to others (for example: “I’m good with hugs,” or “I’d like to keep roughly 6 feet of space between myself and others.”). We’ll encourage participants to wear these throughout the weekend to help us indicate to one another how we’d prefer to engage.​​​

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