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?
Certificate in Museum Studies Program
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all upcoming CMS
courses have been postponed. For more information, please
contact learning@museums.ab.ca.
Grants Program
Grant Applications
In response to reductions to our funding
allocation, the AMA has made the following changes to the
Grants Program for the 2020 - 2021 granting
year.
- The September 2020 Grant Run has been
eliminated.
- The November 2020 Grant Run for Operational Staffing
Grants will proceed as normal.
- The February 2021 Grant Run will be reduced to accept
applications for Professional Development Grants
only.
Please read our
Membership Advisory for details.
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 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.
Recognized Museum Program
The upcoming deadlines for the Recognized Museum
Program are:
- Candidate Upgrade Evidence: November 2, 2020
- Application, Reapplication, and Leader Applications: November
30, 2020
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?
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.
Health & Safety Toolkits
Health & Safety Toolkits contain physical wayfinding
signage and floor stickers to direct visitors and encourage
physical distancing, as well as free access to digital resources.
Toolkits are available to order through the AMA Bookstore.
Learn more about the project here.
After museums were allowed to reopen in Stage 1 of Alberta's
Relaunch Strategy, the AMA published the advisory
document, Guidance
for Reopening Museums, to help clarify museum-specific
considerations and requirements to reopen safely. We are working to
expand on and develop this document with additional information and
resources about reopening and operating during a public health
crisis.
In reviewing this guidance, 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.
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 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 the temporary order
suspending deadlines to hold annual general meetings and file
annual returns has been lifted. These requirements reverted
to normal as of August 15, 2020. Please read
our
Membership Advisory for details.
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.
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 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.
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 the
temporary order suspending deadlines for corporations,
partnerships, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations to hold
annual general meetings and file their annual returns has
been lifted. These requirements reverted to normal as of
August 15, 2020. Please see our
Membership Advisory for details.
The AMA recognizes that many of our members will be
affected by these changes and will need to begin planning
immediately to address these updated requirements. We are working
with the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO) and
other service providers to gather more information and address
questions about how these changes will impact your
institution.
Please share your specific questions with us through this form.
Are there any changes to how charitable gaming proceeds may be
used during the COVID-19 crisis?
In March, 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 Information for
current 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 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
were permitted to reopen and resume operations as of May 14. Given
the unique circumstances faced by museums and heritage
organizations, the AMA created Guidance for Reopening Museums
to help clarify museum-specific considerations and
requirements to reopen safely.
We are working to expand on and develop this document with
additional information and resources about reopening and operating
during a public health crisis.
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: