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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 />When Executive Order 117 took effect, the gallery instituted a <br />number of protective steps. We closed the space to the public from <br />March 14, 2020 through the end of May 2020. The gallery was <br />reopened with significant restrictions and protective measures, <br />including: signs requiring masks of all visitors and members; a <br />sanitizing station; limits on occupancy to 10 people including one <br />member; plexiglass shields in several customer service areas, hand <br />sanitizer at checkout and entry, and a prohibition on cash <br />transactions. The credit card reader is outside the plexiglass shield. <br />We suspended all public gatherings, special shows and events, and <br />instituted online featured shows and sales. <br />Because of the COVID vulnerability of our artist/members, many of <br />whom are in high risk categories, it has been difficult for us to return <br />to our normal 36 hour week. We are now open about 20 hours. We <br />are in the process of engaging a temporary worker to help us offer <br />more hours in the upcoming holiday season, one that is crucial to <br />our business. <br />We gratefully received a loan and grant that allowed us to pay bills <br />May-Oct so that we could lower artist monthly dues. This allowed us <br />to retain our artists members (a requirement of the grant/loan) who <br />were not getting much sales income (our sales are down by 50% for <br />the year and were little to none through June) and for whom high <br />monthly dues became a hardship. Dues are a major source of <br />income for the payment of our operating expenses, so the loan/grant <br />helped pay operating expenses. <br />Please explain the <br />impact of your <br />organization on the <br />Orange County <br />community in a <br />typical year. <br />In a typical year, the gallery is an important cultural resource and <br />gathering place for the Hillsborough community, and has become an <br />important and growing tourism destination, attracting national and <br />international visitors. Our last Friday events attract hundreds of <br />visitors. Our space provides a venue to present the works of 22 local <br />artists on a regular basis, and our annual juried show provides space <br />to showcase 35 additional artists from across the state. Additionally, <br />our annual Orange County Studio Tour Preview Show showcases up <br />to 70 artists from across Orange County who are members of the <br />Orange County Artists Guild (OCAG). The gallery has also provided a <br />venue for local authors who have conducted readings; with some of <br />these readings, our artists create shows of artwork based on the <br />book being discussed. <br />COVID-19 IMPACT <br />DATA <br />This data is for the OCAC's informational purposes only and may or <br />may not be applicable to your organization depending on your <br />structure. <br />Number of Staff <br />Eliminated March 15 <br />- October 15 <br />0 <br />DocuSign Envelope ID: B1812263-0107-45E3-95AC-75E3ADFFB529