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COVID-19 Resources

Updated: September 20, 2021

As the landscape shifts daily during the COVID-19 pandemic, the OMA is committed to providing information to support Ontario’s museums and museum workers to weather this crisis and recover well once the threat has passed. This webpage will be updated as new information and resources become available.

Please see below for collected information and resources regarding the novel coronavirus and its impacts for Ontario museums. These resources are not to be taken as legal advice or a definitive answer for any particular museum, but rather as a guide for preparedness for the field. We encourage members to consult relevant policies & legislation.

A Message from OMA President Paul Robertson

Read the President's full Message HERE. 

Read the President's Message from March 24 HERE.

Directory of Resources

Impact on OMA programs and services:

In line with Public Health direction and to maintain social distancing, the OMA has arranged for staff to work remotely until further notice. Best efforts will be made to continue to deliver  programs and services during this time and members may see the following impacts.
 
OMA Office:

  •  The OMA Office at 50 Baldwin St in Toronto will be closed until further notice.
  • Emails and voicemails will be monitored and responded to during business hours within 2 business days.

Membership:

  • Memberships will continue to be processed and OMA website functionality and access has not been affected.
  • There may be some delay in mailing membership packages due to limited staff access to the OMA office.

Professional Development:

  • All future in-person and online events will be confirmed in advance.
  • Registrations for all postponed events will carry forward. Refunds will be provided on request.

Communications:

  • The weekly ONMuseums newsletter Thursday mornings will continue to go out as usual.
  • eNews Alerts will notify members of time-sensitive information or initiatives.
  • OMA social media (facebook and twitter) will be monitored and updated.
  • The OMA website and this webpage will be updated regularly.

COVID-19 Public Health Information:

 

OMA's Advocacy Response to COVID-19

OMA COVID-19 Webinar Series

Watch the webinar recordings HERE

  • Caring for Heritage Collections during the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • COVID-19 Navigating the Crisis: Federal Support Programs, presented in collaboration with the Ontario Association of Art Galleries and Young Associates.
  • Collecting Community Responses to COVID-19
  • Digital Decision-making: Approaches to Online Engagement During Museum Closure, presented in collaboration with the Ontario Association of Art Galleries
  • Confessions of a Museum Professional 3.0: The Quarantine Edition, presented in collaboration with the Group of Ontario Emerging Museum Professionals (GOEMP)
  • Making Engaging Online Projects, with the Virtual Museum of Canada
  • Planning to Reopen Your Museum or Gallery: A Conversation, presented in collaboration with the Ontario Association of Art Galleries
  • "Ask Me Anything" with Sarah Beam-Borg, presented in collaboration with the Group of Ontario Emerging Museum Professionals (GOEMP)
  • Scenario Planning presented in collaboration with the Ontario Association of Art Galleries
  • "Ask Me Anything" with Irene Chalmers, presented in collaboration with the Group of Ontario Emerging Museum Professionals
  • "Ask Me Anything" with Susan Maltby, presented in collaboration with the Group of Ontario Emerging Museum Professionals
  • Twitter 101 with Laura Pearce, Twitter Canada
  • Twitter 201 with Laura Pearce, Twitter Canada
  • Reopening Museums Safely with PSHSA

Funding and Support Programs

Government of Canada

Government of Ontario

Ontario Trillium Foundation

Community Foundations of Canada

COVID Resources and Responses from Other Associations

Preparing for Recovery and Re-Opening

Sample Guidelines, Plans, and Messaging from Other Jurisdictions:

Collections & Facilities Care:

Human Resources & Business Continuity Planning:

Remote Work & Self-Care

Supporting Volunteers

Emergency Preparedness & Risk Management:

Communications on Museum Closures and Program Changes:

During this time of uncertainty museums may face temporary closure and need to be prepared to communicate this with the public.
Example Museum Closure Communication:

Website pop-up messages:

Tweets:

Digital Outreach During Closures:

Digital tools can allow museums to reach out to audiences despite closures and social distancing practices. Some examples are below:
Several Ontario museums are also available for 3D virtual tours, including:

Links to ONMuseums updates

The OMA has been providing updates to members every week in our e-newsletter ONMuseums. You can access the full ONMuseums archive HERE.