Dear Friends,
Earlier this week Mayor de Blasio and the
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs announced the
New York City Artist Corps, a $25 million investment in local artists to bring creative programming and engagement to every corner of the city this summer. A historic investment in local artists, the program will put artists to work this summer to bring public spaces to life in all five boroughs and build on efforts to spur New York’s recovery. We look forward to sharing details on the program in the coming weeks.
Also this week, the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) launched
Music Heals, a new program in partnership with
NYC Department of Health and
AFM Local 802 to present live one-hour performances at
11 City-run vaccination centers across the five boroughs through June 20. When I visited the vaccination site at City College, I was moved to tears as I listened to Philip Payton and his string quartet. Sitting among the audience of newly vaccinated New Yorkers, I felt a sense of hope for the return of live engagement with arts and entertainment in the
#SummerofNYC.
In another hopeful sign, Governor Cuomo announced that
Broadway will fully reopen its doors in September, with tickets now on sale for shows starting September 14, 2021. In addition, he announced that on
May 19, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut plan to lift capacity restrictions—subject to space available to socially distance—for retail stores, food services, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barbershops, offices, and other kinds of businesses and non-profits, with some exclusions. As we wait for details from the State, this is what we know now:
Arts and Entertainment
Starting May 19,
capacity limits for large performing arts and sport venues will increase to 30% indoors. Outdoor large venues will be limited by the capacity necessary to comply with the CDC social distancing rules and
fully vaccinated attendees at these events may be seated at full capacity in assigned sections. Until May 19, capacity is capped at 20% for outdoor venues with 2,500+ capacity, and 10% for indoor venues with 1,500+ capacity.
NYS Department of Health’s Interim Guidance for Large Scale Performing Arts and Entertainment Venues during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency is available on the
New York Forward Phase 4 webpage.
Required Local Health Department Notifications for Live Performance: If you wish to offer a live performance that exceeds the social gathering limit (but is within the limits established by the State for performances when the audience is COVID-19 tested or vaccinated) you must notify the NYC Health Department at least five days in advance.
You can make the notification here.
Offices
Starting May 15,
offices can increase capacity from 50% to 75% in accordance with
NYS DOH Interim Guidance for Office-Based Work. The
NYC Department of Small Business Services is hosting a free webinar series “Back to the (Future) Workplace” to assist businesses with guidance for office reopening. The next program is on May 11;
more information is available here.
Public Transportation
Starting May 17, the
New York City subway will resume 24-hour service. It is currently closed from 2am to 4am. New York City will continue its cleaning and disinfection efforts when 24-hour service resumes.
Restaurants and Bars
The New York State Legislature
repealed the order requiring food sales with the purchase of alcoholic beverages at restaurants and bars.
As of May 3,
patron seating is allowed at bar areas, in accordance with
NYS Department of Health updated the Interim Guidance on New York City Indoor Food Services during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Businesses will still need to ensure 6 feet distancing between parties (i.e. groups of patrons).
As of May 7,
indoor dining in New York City is allowed to expand to 75% capacity, in accordance with
NYS Department of Health updated the Interim Guidance on New York City Indoor Food Services during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
Starting May 17,
the midnight curfew on outdoor dining will be lifted. This change applies to private outdoor areas, and closing times are subject to a business’s liquor license stipulations. Until then, food and beverage establishments must cease all on-premises service and consumption of food and beverages (including alcohol) by midnight under
NYS Executive Order 202.102. SLA-licensed establishments should visit the
State Liquor Authority website for additional guidance about closing times. NOTE: The midnight closing hour for NYC Open Restaurants roadway seating will remain in effect until further notice.
Starting May 17, the
1am curfew will be lifted for catered events where attendees have proof of vaccination status or negative COVID test result. And then on May 31, the curfew will be lifted for all catered events that qualify under the
NYS DOH Interim Guidance for New York City Indoor Food Services during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (In-Person and Catered Events Section).
Starting May 19,
capacity restrictions are lifted for restaurants and bars, subject to social distancing requirements, in accordance with the
NYS DOH Interim Guidance for New York City Indoor Food Services during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
Starting May 31,
the midnight curfew on indoor dining will be lifted. Until then, food and beverage establishments must cease all on-premises service and consumption of food and beverages (including alcohol) by midnight under
NYS Executive Order 202.102. SLA-licensed establishments should visit the
State Liquor Authority website for additional guidance about closing times.
MOME’s
Office of Nightlife has made a suite of operational guidance materials and public informational posters and graphics available for download at
www.nyc.gov/nightlife. Guidance for Open Restaurants is posted on the
DOT website. Participants may submit questions about Open Restaurants to DOT at
https://on.nyc.gov/2DlH4sT or call the SBS hotline at (888) SBS-4NYC.
Social Gatherings
Starting May 10,
the outdoor social gathering limit in public places increases to 500.
Starting May 19,
the indoor social gathering limit in public places increases to 250; the indoor social gathering limit at residences increases to 50; and the outdoor social gathering limit at residences is removed.
Eviction Moratorium Update: The ban on commercial and residential evictions, foreclosure proceedings, credit discrimination and negative credit reporting related to the effects of the pandemic is extended until August 31, 2021.
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is currently accepting applications for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (formerly Save Our Stages). Eligible operators of live venues, live performing arts organizations, museums and movie theatres, as well as live venue promoters, theatrical producers and talent representatives may apply for critical economic relief under this program. For more information and to view applicant resources, visit the
SVOG website. For SVOG application portal technical support such as a password reset, browser suggestions, or how to use the multi-factor authentication with an app and the QR code, applicants can call 1-800-659-2955 or, for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, 1-800-877-8339 and follow the prompts to SVOG assistance.
NYC live-performance venues, businesses, and non-profit organizations applying for SVOG and other federal assistance can access free technical assistance through
Curtains Up NYC, a program partnership of MOME and NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS). Trained counselors are also available for virtual, one-on-one sessions. Information is available on the
Curtains Up NYC webpage or 888-SBS-4NYC.
The SBA is also accepting applications for the federal
Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). The program provides non-taxable grants to restaurants, bars, and other food and beverage businesses hit hardest by the COVID-19 crisis. Individual establishments may qualify for up to $5 million and restaurant groups may be eligible for up to $10 million in grant funding. NYC restaurants and bars can access free technical assistance through
Fair Share NYC: Restaurants, a program partnership of MOME and the Office of Nightlife in partnership with SBS. Information is available on the
Fair Share NYC: Restaurants webpage or 888-SBS-4NYC.
After serving more than eight million small businesses, the general appropriation for the bipartisan
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been exhausted. The SBA will continue funding outstanding approved PPP applications, but new qualifying applications will only be funded through a remaining $9.9 billion set aside for Community Financial Institutions, program participating financial lenders that serve underserved communities such as Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), Certified Development Companies (CDCs) and Microloan intermediaries. For more information,
visit the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program website.
The SBA recommends that businesses considering applying for federal grants or loans for COVID-19 relief refer to this helpful resource page that summarizes criteria and restrictions for the various SBA programs.
NYC MEDIA PRODUCTION
Commissioner’s Directive 11 concerning media production on public property in NYC is posted on the
Film Permit website, which also includes links to
NYS Department of Health Interim Guidance for Media Production and related resources. Current New York State guidance requires productions to ensure that employees, cast and crew members, whose job functions or roles involve close or proximate contact with cast members, have been tested for COVID-19 through a diagnostic test, prior to their participation in media production activities, and at least once per week thereafter, when on site or location. Testing is not required for such individuals that have completed the COVID-19 vaccination series plus 14 days; such individuals must provide proof of completion.
MOME has updated its FAQ to reflect this change and others concerning live studio audience capacity and COVID-19 Zones. To assist productions with promoting safety protocols on set, the Film Office has produced a
suite of graphics and posters available for download here.
Please be sure to check frequently for updates and review the guidelines and FAQ before submitting permit applications. If you have questions after reading these guidance documents, please call the Film Office at (212) 489-6710.
NYC OPEN CULTURE
Open Culture performances continue to roll out in neighborhoods across the city. The program, which runs through October 31, allows ticketed, socially distanced, outdoor performances at nearly
200 street locations throughout the five boroughs. The
NYC Open Culture Program Resources page offers tips for planning and preparation for Open Culture events, links to best practices and protocols for live performance developed by unions and performing arts organizations, and a
suite of graphics and sample posters for Open Culture participants to use at their events.
Additional posters are available on the
Department of Health website.
