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Governor Cooper Eases Restrictions
Venue Capacity Significantly Increased
Sports, Movies, & Live Arts Treated Equally |
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 On Tuesday, February 24th Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order 195 which eased a wide variety of operating restrictions affecting the arts. Arts NC is glad to see that several of the objectives of our advocacy with the Governor Cooper’s Office and NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) have been achieved, including safely raising limits on venue capacity and equal treatment of performing arts with sports, movies, and other events. All the changes in this Executive Order will take effect at 5:00pm on Friday, February 26th.
Most indoor venues will be allowed up to 30% capacity, capped at 250, and all outdoor venues will be allowed 30% capacity with no cap. Venue capacity limits do not include performers, athletes, or staff, only guests. Dance studios will be allowed up to 50% capacity, limited for social distancing, and museums will still be able to operate at 50% capacity, but now without limiting each room to 25 persons.
In addition to these changes, the 10:00pm curfew will be lifted and alcohol can be sold until 11:00pm, including at bars which will now be able to open at 30% capacity, capped at 250. The size limit of social and other gatherings not otherwise addressed in the Executive Order will be raised from 10 to 25 people indoors and will remain at 50 people outdoors.
Arts North Carolina will continue to represent the arts and arts education sector with the Governor Cooper’s Office and NCDHHS as we to continue reopen our state and restart the arts. We are fortunate to have strong advocacy partners in this work including the NC Theatre Conference, NC Presenters Consortium, and NC Independent Venue Alliance, as well as our state government partner the NC Arts Council.
If you have any questions about the Phase 3 of Reopening and the arts, please send them to OpenArts@ArtsNC.org.
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Phase 3 of Reopening Summary for the Arts |
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- All Indoor and Outdoor Venues must limit the number of guests (audience) so that groups can stay 6 feet apart, keep counter and/or table seated groups 6 feet apart, and insure that performers are at least 6 feet away from any guests. All guests must remain seated except to enter, exit, use amenities, visit the restroom, or obtain food or drink. All workers must wear masks, and all guests must wear masks unless actively drinking or eating.
- Indoor Venues hosting Live Performances may allow up to 30% of their stated fire capacity, or 250 guests, whichever is less, and should follow NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Indoor and Outdoor Small & Medium Venues for Live Performances.
- Indoor Venues showing a Movie may allow up to 30% of their stated fire capacity, or 250 guests, whichever is less per screen and should follow NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Movie Theaters.
- Indoor Venues hosting Conferences and Events may allow up to 30% of their capacity, or 250 persons, whichever is less and should follow NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Meeting Rooms and Event Spaces.
- Indoor Venues with capacity greater than 5,000 may allow up to 30% of their stated fire capacity and should follow NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Large and Very Large Indoor and Outdoor Venue
- Outdoor Venues with capacity less than 10,000 may allow up to 30% of their stated fire capacity NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Indoor and Outdoor Small & Medium Venues for Live Performances.
- Outdoor Venues with capacity greater than 10,000 may allow up to 30% of their stated fire capacity and should follow NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Large and Very Large Indoor and Outdoor Venue.
- Museums may allow up to 50% of their stated fire capacity, must post signs to encourage 6’ social distancing, and should follow NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Museums and Aquariums.
- Dance Studios may allow up to 50% of their stated fire capacity, limited to allow 6’ social distancing, and should follow NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Indoor Fitness Centers and Gyms Settings.
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PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW COVID-19 IMPACT SURVEYS TODAY!
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 Americans for the Arts and Artist Relief have released new versions of their COVID-19 Impact on the Arts Surveys. The findings will power their collective ongoing advocacy work to ensure the arts are part of the billions of dollars in relief and recovery funding.
- We urge all arts and cultural organizations to complete the new COVID-19 Impact Survey for Organizations. This revised survey enables us to continue tracking the human and financial impacts of COVID-19 on arts organizations as well as understand the challenges with recovery and re-opening. All types of arts and cultural organizations should participate.
- Americans for the Arts and Artist Relief, with support from the Ford Foundation, have launched a new COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists. This revised survey enables the partners to gauge what is happening to our creative economy and address what is needed to provide relief and spur recovery. All types of creative workers should participate: practicing artists, culture bearers, educators and teaching artists, creative entrepreneurs, and hobby artists. Please share this link with your artist networks.
- Each week, Americans for the Arts publishes its updated COVID-10 Research Update that tracks the ongoing human and financial impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the arts. As the virus continues to rage in our communities, so does its devastation of the nation’s arts sector. Cancellations have taken place at virtually every arts organization across the country, 1 in 10 arts businesses doubt their ability to survive, and two-thirds of the nation’s artists are now unemployed. Use this weekly update to keep informed.
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Armstrong McGuire & Associates
Arts+
Asheville Area Arts Council
Blowing Rock Art & History Museum
Cape Fear Regional Theatre
Center for Craft
Children’s Theatre Of Charlotte
Cucalorus Film Foundation
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DREAMS of Wilmington
Duplin County Schools
Gaston Arts Council
Gina Harrison / GHDesigns.net
High Point Arts Council
Jackson County Arts Council
NC Glass Center
North Carolina Theatre Arts Educators
Penland School of Craft
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Pinecone: Piedmont Council
of Traditional Music
Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft
The Paramount Theatre Foundation
United Arts Council of Catawba County
Winston-Salem Symphony Association
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