A Letter from SFAI Regarding the Coronavirus

March 17, 2020

As we all are making sense of a constantly changing global situation, it is clear how deeply connected we are. We live within a global ecosystem that requires our care and attention, and the smallest actions we all take every day matter.

SFAI is taking proactive measures to ensure everyone’s health and safety by carefully monitoring the COVID-19 virus, and modifying our procedures and protocols accordingly.

We are continuing our operations with staff working from home.

We have cancelled all in-person meetings and public events, and will continue to monitor the situation to determine the appropriateness of future events.

We have cancelled the May Labor residency, and notified May residents. We will continue to monitor the situation to determine whether future residency months will need to be cancelled. We have been or will be personally in touch with all of our 2020 Labor residents to inform them of any changes in programming.

Calls for applications for the 2020 Story Maps Fellowship and 2021 Revolution Residency Program remain open. We encourage all artists and creative practitioners to apply!

Please check back for updates – we at SFAI believe that as long as we are all collectively responsible, we can eliminate or reduce our exposure! Please stay aware and informed.

Please note the following important best practices, by the CDC:
Perform hand hygiene frequently, particularly after contact with respiratory secretions. Hand hygiene includes either cleaning hands with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand rub. Alcohol-based hand rubs are preferred if hands are not visibly soiled; wash hands with soap and water when they are visibly soiled.

Cover your nose and mouth with a flexed elbow or paper tissue when coughing or sneezing and disposing immediately of the tissue and performing hand hygiene;
Refrain from touching mouth and nose;
A medical mask is not required if exhibiting no symptoms, as there is no evidence that wearing a mask – of any type – protects non-sick persons. However, if masks are to be worn, it is critical to follow best practices on how to wear, remove and dispose of them and on hand hygiene after removal (see Advice on the use of masks)

Please refer to the following links for more information, or visit our regularly updated COVID-19 page.