Museums, galleries, and libraries will be allowed to reopen from 1 June 2020 after the NSW Government said it would begin easing Covid-19 restrictions.
NSW Health will provide guidance to ensure the museums, galleries and libraries operate in a Covid-19 safe way, including:
- exclusion of staff and visitors who are unwell;
- limiting the number of guests to allow for 4 square metres per person;
- providing distance markers for people queuing at service points;
- ensuring adequate handwashing facilities and/or sanitiser;
- online ticketing systems for museums and galleries;
- no groups and tours;
- enhanced cleaning; and
- 24-hour quarantine of returns for libraries.
In related news, the NSW Government has announced a $50 million Rescue and Restart package for arts and cultural organisations to ensure the sector continues to contribute to the state economy during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Rescue and Restart package will be delivered in two stages:
- Funding available now to enable NSW not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations to hibernate temporarily; and
- Funding available in the coming months to enable cultural organisations to restart operations after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Funding will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
To learn more, contact arts policy and funding body Create NSW via email sector.support@create.nsw.gov.au
In other NSW news, assessment for a Fairfield Council project to renew the Villawood Town Centre has been fast-tracked as part of the NSW Government’s new Planning System Acceleration Program.
The $326 million project was one of 24 included in the second tranche of projects to be fast-tracked through the program. Several recycling projects also had their assessments fast-tracked.