Reopening Resources for Galleries and Museums

NAVA partnered with the Art Gallery of NSW and Create NSW to host a free webinar to support individuals and organisations as the sector prepares to open up. Emily Crocker, Head of Government and Corporate Planning at the Art Gallery of NSW presented AGNSW’s experience and shared tips on:

• Communicating vaccination and mask mandates to audiences 
• De-escalation techniques and dealing with customers/visitors in the space
• Risk mitigation and preparing for escalated situations
• Planning for the future.

QR check in support for people with low vision - Vision Australia

Accessing Digital Certificate and checking vaccination status - Service NSW

Contact risk assessment for community and workplace settings - NSW Government

National ‘Pulse’ Check Findings | Audience Outlook Monitor - Pattern Makers

Key resources for reference and decision making include:

National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response

COVID-19 The Case for mandatory vaccinations in the workplace

Arts Access Australia: Working safely and inclusively through COVID-19 and beyond

For arts organisations who don't have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline is a free, confidential phone counselling service, available 24/7 to anyone anywhere in Australia who works in the arts.

In some areas, businesses are responsible for taking reasonable steps to prevent unvaccinated people entering your premises. As visual arts venues reopen, front of house staff–many of whom are volunteers or casual workers–are placed in vulnerable situations. Refusing admission may be confronting. Here are some tips to ensure staff feel comfortable and safe when asking for valid forms of evidence of vaccination or medical exemption.

• Make sure you have good clear signage. Graphics or images are useful. Support your team by clearly identifying the legal requirements of these conditions (i.e. government mandate, enacted through regulations of an act, local government policy).
• Write a script. Make sure your teams know exactly what to say and what not to say. A positive and warm welcome will put visitors at ease. Use of more inclusive language might be helpful, for example, use ‘condition of entry’ rather than ‘required’ or ‘mandated’.
• Active listening is important. Ensure staff remain calm and are aware of who to contact if the situation escalates or becomes unsafe.
• Ensure you are operating within anti-discrimination legislation and brief your team about this. Knowing that your workplace has complied with due diligence will help front of house staff feel more comfortable responding to any potential criticism.
• Be clear about what proof of vaccination or medical exemption you will accept.
• Check-in and offer regular support.  

For tips on coping with anxiety about COVID-19 restrictions easing, visit Black Dog Institute.

There are a range of free and paid online training courses available for your organisation. Here are a few we’ve come across.

FREE Coronavirus (COVID-19) Safety at Work Online Certificate Courses - Sentrient

VISITOR VEX ABOUT VAX - Preferred Training Networks