March 11th, 2020
Dear CalPoets' Community, We have been getting a lot of calls and updates from Poet-Teachers and partners throughout the state regarding the coronavirus. The Poetry Out Loud state finals have gone "virtual." Some schools have shut down and many Poet-Teachers have postponed spring poetry readings to future dates. We have been receiving questions about when to cancel poetry classes in schools. CalPoets stands by each Poet-Teacher making their own personal risk assessment and decisions on this matter. One Poet-Teacher is going to attempt to teach a class from home via Google Hangouts. If you do choose to continue teaching in the classroom, please research and adhere to the updated health guidelines and polices of each school district. If you have a public, county-wide poetry reading scheduled, please be in touch with venue owners and your local Poet-Teachers to make an informed decision as to how to move forward. Please see below for some some updated information that may come in handy, including a Covid-19 community conversation webinar with the Teaching Artists Guild, a coronavirus preparedness newsletter alert from Arts Ready, guidance from the California Department of Public Health regarding mass gatherings, and some info on the Poetry Out Loud State Finals. The Statewide Poetry Symposium taking place at Sonoma State University June 26-28th has NOT been cancelled at this point. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions, ideas or concerns. Warmly, Meg Hamill Executive Director (415) 221-4201 meg@cpits.org
California Poetry Out Loud State Finals goes "Virtual" This is new information and the CAC has not yet updated their website. The following is from Jen Daly, Poetry Out Loud Consultant for the California Arts Council: "The California Arts Council recognizes that Poetry Out Loud State Finals requires travel (long distance travel for some) and that it brings together people from areas of our state that may be experiencing different local health guidelines. The CAC has determined that a “virtual” State Finals competition will be held this year in place of the in-person event in Sacramento. This is in consideration of the best path to ensure that all students can participate the potential health impacts, especially for vulnerable populations that are disproportionately impacted... It is still our intention that the students will participate remotely this Sunday, March 15, and that we will be announcing our state winner via email, internet and social media on the morning of Monday, March 16."
Teaching Artists Covid-19 Community Conversation Together with the Association of Teaching Artists, The National Guild for Community Arts Education, Creative Generation, NYC Arts in Education Roundtable and the Teaching Artists of the Mid-Atlantic, the Teaching Artists Guild will be presenting a panel to help prepare you and answer some questions about the effects of this health concern on your work life. This Friday (March 13th) at 2pm EST (11am PST), please join us for a community conversation about the impact of COVID-19 on teaching artists, the arts education field, and its stakeholders. Click here to register for the webinar.
ArtsReady preps organizations for potential of Coronavirus
Arts Ready, a national initiative of South Arts, has issued a newsletter alert with valuable information for performing arts organizations, museums, festivals, and other arts spaces and events to help plan for and limit the spread of the Coronavirus. Details include facility sanitation, potential closures, and information on how to support staff and volunteers. Read the newsletter now.
Mass Gatherings Guidance on Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 from the CDPH This guidance is based on what is currently known about the transmission and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) will update this guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available. Click to read the full report.