Reopening and Operating during COVID-19

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 available resources below.

Reopening Guidance

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.  

This guide expands on the AMA's advisory document released in May 2020, and includes additional information around human resources for museums as employers, funding and aid programs available to support your pandemic response, and planning resources for reopening and restarting programmatic activities.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing and evolving situation, with more day-to-day implications and a longer immediate presence than most other natural disasters that museums in Alberta may have dealt with in the past. This resource provides guidance for museums as they consider how operations may change as the pandemic response evolves, and new restrictions are put in place or old ones are lifted or changed, knowing that operating under these shifting circumstances will likely be the reality for a while yet.

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.  

Download the guide here.

Best Practice in Virtual Programming, Tours, and Exhibits

Whether you will be engaging with your visitors in person or online, get ready with the advisory resource, Best Practice in Virtual Programming, Tours, and Exhibits.

This guide covers:

• strategies for developing virtual programming, tours, and exhibits;
• advice for creating virtual content that complements and enhances visitor experiences;
• guidance for using social media to share your museum's content; and
• resources to address considerations for museums and heritage organizations as they make decisions about going virtual.

With guidance, resources, and case studies from Alberta museums, this guide to best practices in virtual programming, tours, and exhibits is intended to increase awareness and understanding of the nature of virtual museums and the opportunities offered by virtual content creation and distribution.

Download the guide here.  

Health & Safety Toolkits

Health & Safety Toolkits are now available to order through the AMA Bookstore. Ordering will remain open while supplies last.

Health & Safety Toolkits provide museums and heritage institutions with a variety of health and safety supports. The toolkits include physical wayfinding signage and floor stickers to direct visitors and encourage physical distancing, along with free access to digital resources.

One toolkit includes:

• "Welcome" sign with guidelines for visitors (1 large Coroplast poster)
• directional floor arrows (10 vinyl decals)
• two-metre distancing floor markers (8 vinyl decals)
• "Stand Here" floor lines (3 vinyl decals)
• "Maximum Capacity" wall signs (2 repositionable, rewriteable signs)
• hand sanitizer sign (1 small easel sign).

Click image to enlarge.

You will also receive digital files:

• print-ready digital files, allowing you to custom print additional signage and stickers as needed; 
• digital files for additional types of instructional signs with a variety of messages to suit different circumstances;  
• customizable templates for additional wayfinding and instructional signage that can be edited, updated, and printed on demand to meet the needs of your organization; and
• technical specifications with instructions for usage of stickers and signage. 

Click image to enlarge.

These toolkits are available for only the cost of shipping and handling at a flat rate of $40 per toolkit. Organizations may request up to three toolkits, and orders will be filled based on overall supply and demand. An organization does not need to be an AMA member to order a toolkit. You will receive an email notification confirming the contents of your order prior to it being shipped.

COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions  

Under the Advisory section, the AMA maintains an FAQ and Resources Guide for the COVID-19 pandemic. This section is updated as new information and resources become available.

For more information about this ongoing project, please contact the AMA at communications@museums.ab.ca.