COVID-19 Pandemic FAQ
The AMA will be updating this section as new information and
resources become available.
Alberta Museums
Association
Is the AMA office closed?
In order to be proactive in following public health guidelines,
AMA staff will mostly be working remotely. As such, there may be
some delays in our response time.
How can I contact the AMA?
AMA staff continue to have access to email and voicemail. A
staff directory is available through the AMA's main phone line, at
780.424.2626. Individual AMA staff member emails can be found here.
Our mailing address is:
Alberta Museums Association
Suite 120, 12420.104 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T5N 3Z9
What is the status of the AMA's programs and
services?
Certificate in Museum Studies Program
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in-person CMS
courses have been postponed. The AMA is currently reviewing the CMS
Program to update courses to virtual learning opportunities and
ensure the curriculum aligns with current standards and issues in
the museum sector. The next phase of this review is a series
of online pilot courses launched in Fall 2021. Please click
here for upcoming learning opportunities.
Grants Program
Grant Applications
The 2021 - 2022 grant season is now closed.
For information about changes that were made to the 2021 - 2022
Grants Program, please see our
Membership Advisory.
Grant Evaluations
In light of the impacts of COVID-19 on the museum sector, the AMA
has made adjustments to the Grants Program for all open and unspent
grants to allow flexibility in the use of funds. If your
grant-funded project, learning opportunity, or staff position has
been affected by the pandemic, please contact grants@museums.ab.ca.
Grant Evaluations can be submitted through the Members Only section of the
AMA website. Please note that processing evaluations will be
delayed. Please contact us at grants@museums.ab.ca if your
evaluation submission will be affected by the ongoing pandemic.
Learning Opportunities
For information about our 2022 Learning Opportunities,
see
our schedule.
Recognized Museum Program
If your participation in the Recognized Museum Program is
affected by COVID-19, please contact recognized@museums.ab.ca.
Online Orders
We continue to fill orders made through our online Bookstore; due to the AMA staff working
remotely, shipping may be delayed.
Who should I contact at the AMA for more information,
support, or advice around managing my museum's response to
COVID-19?
The AMA has an Advisory Team working to ensure that members have
access to shared information and resources. You can request
advisory support through the Advisory Services form in the Members Only section or
by email to advisory@museums.ab.ca.
Museum Community
What impacts has COVID-19 had on the museum sector?
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Alberta
declared
a state of emergency under the Public Health Act that
included the closure of all museums across the
province.
On April 30, 2020, the Government of Alberta announced that
museums and art galleries would be permitted to reopen in Stage One
of Alberta's Relaunch Strategy. As of May 14,
2020, museums were permitted to reopen to the public.
On December 8, 2020, the Government of Alberta announced
enhanced public health measures, which included the mandated
closure of museums, science centres, interpretive centres, and
galleries. Click
here for the AMA's Membership Advisory.
On May 26, 2021, the Government of Alberta
released Alberta's Open for Summer Plan, a
relaunch strategy which eases restrictions in three stages as
vaccination targets are reached and hospitalizations decline.
Museums were permitted to reopen in Stage 2, effective June 10,
2021.
On September 15, 2021, the Government of Alberta
introduced new temporary
public health measures, including an expansion of
indoor mandatory masking requirements in effect for the entire
province. Click here for the AMA's Membership
Advisory.
On December 24, 2021, the Government of Alberta enacted new
measures applicable to institutions participating in the
Restrictions Exemption Program. Click here for the AMA's Membership
Advisory.
On February 8, 2022, the Government of Alberta announced
its plan to phase out public health measures in three stages as
pressure on Alberta's healthcare system eases. Click here for the AMA's Membership
Advisory.
What resources are available for museums as they reopen?
With funding support from Travel Alberta, the AMA is
working to produce physical and digital resources to support
organizations in the museum and heritage sector to reopen and
operate safely during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Learn
more about the project here.
Digital Health & Safety Signage Toolkits
This free digital toolkit includes instructional and wayfinding
signange with a variety of messages to suit the different needs of
your organization. The signage toolkit also includes customizable
templates that can be edited and updated as circumstances change
and public health restrictions are revised. Download the digital
toolkit here.
In addition, Health & Safety Toolkits containing physical
wayfinding signage and floor stickers to direct visitors and
encourage physical distancing are available to order through the AMA
Bookstore.
Advisory Resources
The advisory resource,
Guidance for Alberta Museums during the Pandemic,
addresses museum-specific considerations and requirements to manage
closure and, once able to do so, to reopen and operate safely.
Please note that this document was last updated in December 2020;
where current public health measures conflict
with this document, that guidance should be followed over the
advice in the resource.
Whether you will be engaging with your visitors in person
or online, get ready with the AMA's advisory resource,
Best Practice in Virtual Programming, Tours, and
Exhibits.
What if my museum remains closed?
If your museum remains closed, please refer to the Canadian
Conservation Institute (CCI) Note 1/3,
Closing a Museum for the Winter, for advice on
closing your museum safely and efficiently.
What information should my museum be tracking about the impacts
of COVID-19?
We strongly encourage you to document your experiences, and in
particular financial and human resources impacts, to help us
understand the economic and social impacts of COVID-19 on the
museum sector in Alberta.
The Government of Alberta has created a framework to assess the
various needs of Alberta's non-profits.
This chart includes a list of concerns, anticipated impacts,
and current mitigation tactics. As the AMA will be collecting
information on these issues, please use this guide as a reference
for the information your museum should be tracking.
The AMA is working to collect information in order to advocate
for museums and museum professionals who have been affected by
closures in our sector, and is regularly distributing surveys to
our members. If you have any questions about our surveys,
please contact Jennifer Forsyth at advancement@museums.ab.ca.
What is being done to advocate for the museum sector during
this time?
The AMA is working with provincial and federal representatives
to ensure that museums are supported through this time as well as
moving forward.
The AMA is collaborating with the Canadian Museums Association
(CMA) and other Provincial and Territorial Museums Associations
(PTMAs) to advocate to the Federal Minister of Culture for
continued support.
Imagine Canada has created a template
letter you can use to communicate your concerns about the
impacts of COVID-19 on the non-profit and charitable sector to your
Member of Parliament.
Click here for
additional advocacy efforts by non-profit and charitable
organizations in Alberta and Canada.
How can I stay connected with the AMA and the museum
community?
Community matters more than ever as the museum sector responds
to this unprecedented pandemic crisis. We strongly encourage you to
reach out to your professional colleagues, co-workers, and friends
in the field.
You can connect with the AMA online via our website, email, Facebook,
and Twitter. Use
and follow the #ABMuseums hashtag to connect with us and members of
the Alberta museum community.
Ensure that we can connect with you by reviewing your AMA
membership profile in the Members Only section and
confirming that your contact information is up-to-date.
Join the AMA's email discussion list, MAIN-L. MAIN-L is a tool to
keep the Alberta museum community connected, engaged, and informed.
We encourage you to share what you are doing to maintain
connections with your community and the public while your site
adjusts to operating during the pandemic.
Support for Individuals and
Employers
What federal supports can I access for my museum and
staff?
The Government of Canada has announced a number of programs and
initiatives for organizations and individuals that have been
impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please see
their website for more information.
Are there any changes to how charitable gaming proceeds may be
used during the COVID-19 crisis?
In March 2020, Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC)
recognized that charitable groups may need expanded use of proceeds
in order to maintain key charitable programs while addressing
impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. Please see AGLC's COVID-19
FAQ for more information.
What other supports are available?
Please refer to the list
below for more information, resources, and tools for a
range of issues your museum may be facing.
Common Workplace Concerns
What can I do to ensure my organization is prepared to respond
to the pandemic?
The AMA's advisory resource,
Guidance for Alberta Museums during the Pandemic,
addresses museum-specific considerations and requirements to manage
closure and, once able to do so, to reopen and operate safely.
Please note that this document was last updated in December 2020;
where current public health measures conflict
with this document, that guidance should be followed over the
advice in the resource.
The AMA has compiled resources to help museums respond to the
COVID-19 pandemic. For information on managing your museum's
pandemic response, please see our Membership Advisories:
Whether you will be engaging with your visitors in person or
online, get ready with the AMA's advisory resource, Best Practice in Virtual Programming, Tours, and
Exhibits.
If your museum remains closed, please refer to the Canadian
Conservation Institute (CCI) Note 1/3,
Closing a Museum for the Winter for advice on closing your
museum safely and efficiently.
Please see the list below for additional resources for Emergency Preparedness and Response, and Supports for Employees and Employers.
As public health restrictions are revised, update the
instructional and wayfinding signage at your museum with the AMA's
digital Health & Safety toolkit. This free
digital download includes a variety of messages to suit the
different needs of your organization, and additional sets of
customizable templates that can be edited and updated as
circumstances change. Physical signage toolkits are also available to
order.
What resources are available to manage issues around
implementing COVID-19 safety protocols at my museum?
Resources for Managing Conflict
The AMA has secured a limited number of spaces for AMA members
in two online training courses from ARETE, COVID-19 Customer Conflict
Management Training and Workplace Violence
Prevention and De-escalation Training. Offered at no cost
through the
Government of Alberta, ARETE's online training gives employees
the confidence and skills to safely and professionally communicate
guidelines in place at their organization. Register here to receive your complimentary
access code.
The AMA has prepared a brief guide to de-escalation strategies,
available
here.
Vaccination Policies for Nonprofit Employers
Toolkit
In
this toolkit from IntegralOrg, nonprofit employers will find a
Q & A document that addresses from a legal perspective the most
common questions asked by nonprofit employers about vaccinations,
and a webinar recording that provides legal perspectives on the
occupational health and safety obligations of nonprofit employers
with regards to COVID-19.
Staff and volunteers at our museum are continuing to work
remotely. What services can I use to facilitate meetings and
continued work online?
For information about working remotely, please see:
Techsoup, a non-profit that connects Canadian charities,
non-profits, and libraries to affordable technologies, recommends
Nonprofit Resources for Remote Work. Some additional tools for
collaboration, work management, and video conferencing include:
How can I support those who are struggling with anxiety during
this time?
The stress that arises from an emergency situation can be
overwhelming, and each person will be affected differently. This
graph from HELP! An Emergency Preparedness Manual for
Museums, 2nd Edition, illustrates stress reactions
post-disaster.
While stress can actually drive performance in responding to an
emergency situation, there comes a point when that stress can be
dangerous to both the individual and the response. This graph from
the HELP! Manual illustrates responder
exhaustion.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released
a guide for managing stress and anxiety, as well as advice for
self-care,
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Alberta, you can call 211 for information about mental health
supports and services available. Near the bottom of this
page, you will find regional talk, text, or chat services for
Albertans seeking support.
Information about the COVID-19
Pandemic
How can I assess whether I or somebody I know may be infected
with COVID-19?
Alberta Health Services has created
a self-assessment tool to help you determine if an individual
should be tested for COVID-19.
The ABTraceTogether
mobile app is a contact tracing tool intended to let
you know about potential exposures to COVID-19 and to facilitate
contact tracing. More information is available here.
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, please view this
resource for steps you can take to protect yourself and
others.
Where can I go for updates about COVID-19?
For accurate and up-to-date information regarding current
recommendations relating to COVID-19, please refer to official
sources:
Alberta
Canada
International
Further Resources
Advocacy
COVID-19
Official Information
Alberta
Canada
International
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Engaging Online: Resources for Museums
Health and Well-being
Measuring the Impacts of COVID-19
Programs and Supports Available to Museums and
Non-profit Organizations
Reopening Your Museum
In reviewing the guidance below, museums should strongly
consider if, how, and when they should reopen to the public in any
form. The reopening of sites and renewed offering of services must
ensure minimal risk to the safety of staff, volunteers, and
visitors and may require modifying plans, staggering relaunch
activities, or even postponing opening or launch dates entirely as
circumstances evolve. Museums must ensure they are considering all
the factors when making the decision to reopen.
Resources for Employees and Employers
Working Remotely
Resources
Tools for Collaboration, Work Management, and Video
Conferencing:
External Resources and Guides Relating to COVID-19: