COVID-19 Pandemic
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.
As of April 1, the AMA has relocated to a new office space. Our
new address is:
Suite 120, 12420.104 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T5N 3Z9
What is the status of the AMA's programs and
services?
Annual Conference
The AMA's 2020 Annual Conference is going digital: we
will be holding Vital Operations: Museums and Organizational
Sustainability as a virtual event. Additional details will be
announced via our 2020
Conference page; read more about this year's theme here.
Certificate in Museum Studies Program
In response to the latest recommendations from Alberta
Health Services and the Government of Alberta, the April, May, and
July offerings of our Certificate in Museum Studies (CMS)
Program, Collections Management (CMS 20-04), Preventive
Conservation (CMS 20 - 06), and Public Programs (CMS 20 - 07), have
been postponed. We are evaluating our remaining 2020 offerings on
an ongoing basis. As new information becomes available, we will
notify the membership and update
our schedule.
Grants Program
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 Jennifer
Forsyth at 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
The Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) workshop
scheduled for June, as well as the Social Responsibility Workshop
scheduled for July, have been postponed. As new information becomes
available, we will notify the membership and update
our schedule.
The AMA is holding bi-weekly networking and
discussion events to facilitate
conversations among museum workers across the province. This series
of virtual events provides a chance to discuss current issues,
connect with each other, and continue building a strong and
resilient museum sector in Alberta. Registration is
available in the Events section.
Recognized Museum Program
The deadline for participants to submit an Institutional
Profile has passed. 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, 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, museums are permitted to reopen to the public. As
part of these measures, stringent rules and recommendations have
been put in place regarding public gatherings to protect the health
and safety of all Albertans.
What resources are available for museums as they reopen?
Given the rapid timeline and the unique circumstances
faced by museums and heritage organizations, the AMA has
created Guidance for Reopening Museums
to help clarify museum-specific considerations and
requirements to reopen safely.
The overall guidance presented in this document draws on the
Government of Alberta's Workplace Guidance for Business Owners
document for businesses reopening or continuing operations, and
their Guidance for Museums and Art
Galleries.
In reviewing this 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.
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?
The AMA is distributing an ongoing monthly survey to
Institutional Members about the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has
had on their institution, staff, volunteers, and the museum
community as a whole. The AMA is working to collect this
information in order to advocate for museums and museum
professionals who have been affected by closures in our sector.
If your institution has not received this survey, please
contact Jennifer Forsyth at advancement@museums.ab.ca.
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.
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 has joined with the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary
Organizations and Volunteer Alberta, signing on to
a letter to the Government of Alberta with questions as
non-profits approach reporting deadlines and legislation
requirements to host Annual General Meetings.
UPDATE: The Government of Alberta
has announced that, in keeping with public gathering
restrictions, deadlines are suspended for corporations,
partnerships, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations to hold
annual general meetings and file their annual returns.
The Canadian Museums Association (CMA) is also working with the
federal government to secure support for the museum sector during
the response to COVID-19; more information is available
here.
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.
The AMA is holding bi-weekly networking and
discussion events to facilitate
conversations among museum workers across the province. This series
of virtual events provides a chance to discuss current issues,
connect with each other, and continue building a strong and
resilient museum sector in Alberta. Registration is
available in the Events section.
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 is
closed.
My museum has supplies such as N95 masks and nitrile gloves
that could support our province's response to the COVID-19
pandemic. How can we donate them?
The Government of Alberta has announced the launch of the Alberta Bits and Pieces Program, an initiative
to shift production from normal operations to critical healthcare
supplies, and offer a way for Alberta organizations to donate
existing and unused supplies to support our province's response to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can submit your offers to the Alberta Bits and Pieces
Program through the form available here. If there is a need for your product or
service, you will be contacted by a representative of the
Government of Alberta.
If you are considering donations within your community, please
consult with your local health officials or community service
providers about potential donations, what is needed, and how to
safely provide these items before going to a hospital or
distribution centre.
Support for Individuals and
Employers
What federal and provincial support can I access for my museum
and staff?
Federal
The Government of Canada has announced the following programs
and initiatives for organizations that have been impacted: $500
million to establish a COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for
Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations to help address the
financial needs of affected organizations within these sectors so
they can continue to support artists and athletes. This measure is
consistent with the government's other existing COVID-19 support
measures for wages and fixed costs for organizations.
- COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage
and Sport Organizations
On May 8, the Government of Canada
announced further details about the COVID-19 Emergency Support
Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations to help address
the financial needs of affected organizations within these sectors
so they can continue to support artists and athletes. Please click here for our Membership Advisory for
more information.
- Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
On March 30, 2020, the Government of Canada announced the
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, intended to support
organizations to keep and return workers to the payroll during the
COVID-19 pandemic. The program will fund up to 75 per cent of wages
for eligible businesses, non-profit organizations, and charities,
whose revenue has decreased by at least 15 per cent in
March and 30 per cent in April and May due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The maximum subsidy amount is $847 per week per
employee, for up to twelve weeks. The program is backdated to March
15, 2020.
- Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy for Employers
The
Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy for Employers is a three-month
measure that will allow eligible employers - including non-profit
organizations and charities - to reduce the amount of payroll
deductions required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency.
The subsidy is equal to 10% of the remuneration you pay fromMarch 18, 2020,toJune
19, 2020, up to $1,375 for each eligible employee to a
maximum of $25,000 total per employer.
- Business Credit Availability Program, Canada Emergency
Business Account
The new
Canada Emergency Business Account will provide interest-free
loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to
help cover their operating costs during a period where their
revenues have been temporarily reduced. As of April 16, 2020, to
qualify, these organizations will need to demonstrate they paid
between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in
2019.
- Canada Summer Jobs Program
Temporary changes to the Canada Summer Jobs Program for this
year include: an increase to the wage subsidy,
allowing private and public sector employers to receive up to 100
per cent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for
each employee; an extension to the end date for
employment to February 28, 2021; allowing employers to
adapt their projects and job activities to support
essential services; and allowing employers to hire staff on a
part-time basis.
For individuals who have been impacted, the Government of Canada
has announced updates to the Canada Emergency Response
Benefit (CERB). The CERB is available to workers who meet
all of the following conditions:
- live in Canada and are at least 15 years old;
- stopped working because of COVID-19 or are eligible for EI
regular or sickness benefits;
- have not voluntarily quit their job; and
- had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior
to the date of their application.
As of April 15, 2020, updated eligibility rules will:
- allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting
the CERB;
- extend the CERB to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI
regular benefits and are unable to undertake their usual seasonal
work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak; and
- extend the CERB to workers who recently exhausted their EI
regular benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work
because of COVID-19.
Information about the CERB is available
here.
Please see the Government of Canada's website for
federal supports available for individuals and
businesses.
Provincial
The Government of Alberta has announced the following programs
and initiatives:
- Emergency funding for charities and not-for-profit
organizations
On March 17, 2020, the Government of Alberta
announced emergency funding to charities, not-for-profits, and
civil society organizations to support their COVID-19 response.
This funding will be provided immediately and will support social
services in enabling social distancing, as well as supports and
services for at-risk seniors and families facing homelessness,
poverty, and social isolation. Charities, not-for-profits, and
civil society organizations looking to help Albertans during the
COVID-19 pandemic can apply for this funding.
Please see the Government of Alberta's website for provincial
supports available for individuals and businesses.
We are a Registered Charity. When is my Registered Charity
Information Return due?
As part of the Government of Canada's actions in dealing with
the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Charities Directorate is
extending the filing deadline to December 31, 2020, for
all charities with a Form T3010, Registered Charity Information
Return, due between March 18, 2020, and
December 31, 2020. For more information, click
here.
What are the provincial deadlines for
holding Annual General Meetings and filing annual returns?
The Government of Alberta
has announced that, in keeping with public gathering
restrictions, deadlines are suspended for corporations,
partnerships, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations to hold
annual general meetings and file their annual returns. Please see
their guide here.
Are there any changes to how charitable gaming proceeds may be
used during the COVID-19 crisis?
Yes, Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) has
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 guide for the uses of these proceeds that are eligible
without the requirement for submission of forms normally used for
these requests. Inquiries may be directed to gaming.useofproceeds@aglc.ca
with the subject line, "COVID 19 UOP Request".
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 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:
Under the Government of Alberta's Relaunch Strategy, museums and art galleries
are permitted to reopen and resume operations as of May 14. Given
the unique circumstances faced by museums and heritage
organizations, the AMA has created Guidance for Reopening Museums
to help clarify museum-specific considerations and
requirements to reopen safely.
The overall guidance presented here draws on the Government of
Alberta's Workplace Guidance for Business Owners
document for businesses reopening or continuing operations, and
their Guidance for Museums and Art
Galleries.
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.
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
HELP! 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: