SAAC & CDAF Coronavirus Updates
Many of you (along with our communities) are concerned about the status of the Festival in light of recent news on COVID-19 and the impact it has on public events. We are working with community partners to identify appropriate options, but this involves an unpredictable variable. The spring festival season is important for everyone and we want to contribute to a community-oriented solution. Please check this page for updates on CDAF and refer to appropriate public health resources (listed below) on what you should do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We encourage you to stay informed on the situation and how you can keep yourself and those around you safe.
June 26: The SAAC Board of Directors and CDAF Governing Committee have voted to cancel #CDAF2020. Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in Mississippi, Oktibbeha County, and our planning committee, as well as current restrictions on public gatherings and open-air food service, SAAC and CDAF believe this is the best decision for our artists, vendors, and the community. To read more, please read our full statement here.
May 7: SAAC and CDAF are hard at work continuing to serve the community and plan CDAF 2020, Stay At Home Fest MS, and other activities. We're still planning the festival for later this year and continue to follow government mandates and guidelines, as well as the CDC and WHO. We've been hard at work bringing you programming for @StayAtHomeFestMS to provide artists and musicians some relief through mini grants in a WPA-like program. For more information on how it works or how to recieve a mini grant as an artist, please visit the Grants page. Folllow @StayAtHomeFestMS on Facebook for FREE art lessons, music, magic, art space tours, and more fun for the whole family!
We are exploring alternative options for our Annual Drive and Meeting and will update further once we have more details.
March 20: Both the SAAC Board of Directors and the CDAF Governing Committee, have voted to POSTPONE #CDAF2020 until a yet-to-be-determined date later this year. We are, however, still planning the festival so that when a date can be announced, we will be ready. Artisans, vendors, musicians, volunteers, and sponsors have already been notified. Thank you for your continued support and please be safe as we navigate this pandemic together. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us by email at director@starkvillearts.org or arts@starkvillearts.org.
March 18: The CDAF Governing Committee is meeting tonight to discuss plans for #CDAF2020. We will be notifying artists, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, musicians and other directly involved before releasing information to the public. We will be sending out a newsletter on March 20 to explain the full decision.
March 16: The SAAC Board and CDAF Governing Committee are meeting the week of March 16 to discuss plans for #CDAF2020. We are aware that the CDC has recommended that gatherings with expected attendance of 50+ people be postponed or cancelled for the next 8 weeks. Both the SAAC Board and CDAF Governing Committee are meeting the week of March 16 to discuss and decide our course of action, first for April, and then for the summer. We will need to be flexible with planning and are following guidelines from the CDC, the MS Department of Health Guidelines, the Mississippi Arts Commission, and ongoing discussions with our fellow arts organizations and festivals. Please subscribe to our newsletter (form on the Home page) for updates.
March 12: We are aware that the Mississippi Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed the first case of coronavirus in Forrest County, Mississippi. We are monitoring the Mississippi Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the measures of other state arts organizations and events. No cases identified in Oktibbeha County yet.
June 26: The SAAC Board of Directors and CDAF Governing Committee have voted to cancel #CDAF2020. Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in Mississippi, Oktibbeha County, and our planning committee, as well as current restrictions on public gatherings and open-air food service, SAAC and CDAF believe this is the best decision for our artists, vendors, and the community. To read more, please read our full statement here.
May 7: SAAC and CDAF are hard at work continuing to serve the community and plan CDAF 2020, Stay At Home Fest MS, and other activities. We're still planning the festival for later this year and continue to follow government mandates and guidelines, as well as the CDC and WHO. We've been hard at work bringing you programming for @StayAtHomeFestMS to provide artists and musicians some relief through mini grants in a WPA-like program. For more information on how it works or how to recieve a mini grant as an artist, please visit the Grants page. Folllow @StayAtHomeFestMS on Facebook for FREE art lessons, music, magic, art space tours, and more fun for the whole family!
We are exploring alternative options for our Annual Drive and Meeting and will update further once we have more details.
March 20: Both the SAAC Board of Directors and the CDAF Governing Committee, have voted to POSTPONE #CDAF2020 until a yet-to-be-determined date later this year. We are, however, still planning the festival so that when a date can be announced, we will be ready. Artisans, vendors, musicians, volunteers, and sponsors have already been notified. Thank you for your continued support and please be safe as we navigate this pandemic together. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us by email at director@starkvillearts.org or arts@starkvillearts.org.
March 18: The CDAF Governing Committee is meeting tonight to discuss plans for #CDAF2020. We will be notifying artists, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, musicians and other directly involved before releasing information to the public. We will be sending out a newsletter on March 20 to explain the full decision.
March 16: The SAAC Board and CDAF Governing Committee are meeting the week of March 16 to discuss plans for #CDAF2020. We are aware that the CDC has recommended that gatherings with expected attendance of 50+ people be postponed or cancelled for the next 8 weeks. Both the SAAC Board and CDAF Governing Committee are meeting the week of March 16 to discuss and decide our course of action, first for April, and then for the summer. We will need to be flexible with planning and are following guidelines from the CDC, the MS Department of Health Guidelines, the Mississippi Arts Commission, and ongoing discussions with our fellow arts organizations and festivals. Please subscribe to our newsletter (form on the Home page) for updates.
March 12: We are aware that the Mississippi Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed the first case of coronavirus in Forrest County, Mississippi. We are monitoring the Mississippi Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the measures of other state arts organizations and events. No cases identified in Oktibbeha County yet.
Public Health Resources:
The following resources can help you stay informed on the latest updates regarding COVID-19.
