Dear Colleagues,
Confused? I am not surprised given the recent State news about changes to COVID-19 health and safety requirements. This message is intended to help you understand how this affects Miami-Dade County and your operations. Below you will find a summary of our local requirements as well as other timely COVID-19 updates.
Miami-Dade County COVID-19 Safety Guidelines
Earlier this week, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order suspending local government emergency orders. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has subsequently issued an update with the following clarifications:
For Miami-Dade County-Owned and Operated Facilities
"Miami-Dade County will continue to require key COVID safety precautions including masking, distancing, and disinfecting at all County spaces, including libraries, County parks, and County buildings. A federal mask mandate remains in place for public transit, Miami International Airport, and PortMiami."
For Local Businesses
"According to the Governor’s executive order, local businesses are no longer mandated to require COVID safety precautions including masking. However, I urge our business community to continue to keep the fundamentals in place – masking, distancing, disinfecting, and staying home when sick – to protect all our residents and visitors. And I've been encouraged by many businesses who are voluntarily choosing to keep these precautions in place for the safety of their employees and customers."
COVID-19 Relief Programs
The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs continues to track COVID-19 relief programs available to the Miami-Dade cultural community. At this time the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) program portal has reopened. To submit an application register on the portal and use the checklist to make sure you have everything you need to complete your submission. Review additional resources at sba.gov/svogrant.
Stay Informed
As an important reminder, the Americans for the Arts Arts Action Fund continues to provide a wealth of helpful information, webinars and resources. Sign up for alerts at https://www.artsactionfund.org/. You can sign up for our Department of Cultural Affairs newsletter and alerts here.
Together, we have been through a lot over the past year. We remain optimistic that in the coming months things will continue to get better. In the meantime, it is our collective duty to act responsibly and to consider the health and safety of artists, audiences, and staff first and foremost. We know that you are doing this. We are hopeful that we will see even more progress on a return to in-personness this year!
The Department of Cultural Affairs staff and I will continue to offer support and monitor COVID-19 updates and relief opportunities for you.
Please stay safe!
Michael Spring
Director, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs
The most reliable way to contact us continues to be through email. You can find a staff directory at https://www.miamidadearts.org/about/staff-councils.
Please check the County’s web site for more COVID-19 information updatesand for regular: miamidade.gov/coronavirus.
To view a comprehensive list of all the Department's previous cultural updates on COVID-19 click here.