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North Carolina’s <br />“stay at home” order <br />(Executive Order <br />117) had a profound <br />impact on the arts <br />sector. Describe the <br />specific steps your <br />organization took to <br />comply with <br />Executive Order 117. <br />Executive Order 117 had a direct and challenging impact on HAC. <br />The suspension of programming and events in the spring led to <br />financial losses from event revenue, vendor fees, donations, and <br />sale of goods. From the start, HAC followed the strict “stay at home” <br />guidelines laid out by the State of North Carolina including closure of <br />retail spaces and suspension of events that drew crowds larger than <br />a specified size. In the period from March to July, HAC canceled or <br />postponed eight events and closed the Gallery and Gift Shop. Staff <br />and volunteers were required to work from home with HAC office <br />space limited to one person at a time on a reservation-only basis to <br />avoid the risk of spreading COVID-19 among staff and volunteers. <br />Since March, HAC has conducted an ongoing review of each <br />program to determine the best course of action. Programs are <br />carefully assessed in terms of feasibility of a shift to online, volunteer <br />availability, level of risk to create and deliver the program, and other <br />factors. Volunteers and stakeholders were surveyed to assess their <br />comfort level and requirements for returning to in-person events <br />once permitted. The results of these surveys are helpful as HAC <br />works towards the creation of safe, online programming and <br />prepares a written plan with detailed procedures for phased <br />reopening or the possibility of a repeat closure. It is critical for the <br />ongoing operations of HAC that all of the necessary steps are in <br />place ahead of any future orders similar to Executive Order 117. <br />HAC programs have suffered from indefinite postponement as a <br />result of the “stay at home order” and safety risks involved in <br />gatherings with large numbers. HAC was fortunate to have a great <br />team of staff and volunteers to help the organization pivot quickly <br />into the “new normal” and take on some of the big COVID-related <br />issues. When feasible, programs were adapted to fit a scaled-back, <br />online platform, and new programs were developed. While there is <br />still no date for a return to regular programming, programs <br />developed to reach a socially-distanced audience are helping HAC to <br />continue to fulfill its mission of enriching our community through the <br />arts. <br />DocuSign Envelope ID: F14BDFFF-E002-4842-A89D-4AEBB13BF98C