TL;DR: All programs at AS220 have been closed to the public through the month of April following recommendations from city, state, and federal entities for people to avoid large crowds and practice social distancing.

---

AS220 has decided to cancel all events, and keep our public spaces closed, for the month of April to do our part to help slow the spread of COVID-19. This includes performances at our Main Stage and Black Box Theater, along with the AS220 Galleries, AS220 Industries, the AS220 Dance Studio, and Psychic Readings.

But wait, there’s hope!

• Even though these spaces are closed, you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where we;re shouting out artists whose events were canceled (we also have a running list with links here)
• Although AS220 Youth’s downtown studio will be closed, our hard-working staff have distributed “art kits” for members to take home and continue their creative work! Instructors are also working on distance-learning plans to keep members engaged remotely.
• While AS220 Food & Drink will be closed for the month, our restaurant staff are currently exploring the possibility of take-out and delivery in April! If this is something that you’re interested in, let us know by emailing!

If you are looking for ways to help AS220 while our public programming is shut down, you can donate online at as220.org/support. Your donations will:

• allow AS220 to continue to pay our staff and provide healthcare benefits
• support the 60 residents who live and work in our three buildings
• ensure that our programs come back as strong as they were before

Together, we are all part of this unique and amazing creative community – we wouldn’t be here without you! Thank you for your support!

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we navigate these uncertain times. AS220 WILL be back, and we look forward to you being here with us!

P.S. – Click the image below to enjoy some of our Empire Street residents continuing to fill downtown Providence with their art and creative spirit (turn your sound on!):

---

AS220 Food & Drink is open for regular business today – Saturday, March 14th, 2020. Our full menu can be found at as220.org/foodanddrink, and can be delivered via GrubHub for our community members who need to be at home.

Food & Drink will close temporarily from Sunday, March 15th through Monday, March 23rd. Since reputable information emphasizes that social distancing and the avoidance of large crowds are effective ways to slow the spread of COVID-19, this closure is a way for AS220 to protect the health and safety of our community, especially those most vulnerable. A preemptive temporary closure will also give our restaurant staff the ability to plan and take care of their own needs.

We hope to reopen at 12 PM on Tuesday, March 24th, but will continue to assess the situation as things develop. We are going to make decisions to protect our community and our staff, based on the best information we have each day.  We will reopen, though, and can’t wait to serve you once again!

---

MARCH 2020 PROGRAMMING CANCELED

On March 12th, 2020, Mayor Jorge O. Elorza declared a State of Emergency in the city of Providence, Rhode Island, due to increasing concerns about the spread of COVID-19. AS220 wishes to commend Mayor Elorza for taking swift action on this issue and for valuing the health and safety of the Providence community.

As part of this declaration, all entertainment licenses in the city have been temporarily revoked “until further notice”. This effectively cancels all events scheduled to happen at AS220’s Main Stage and Black Box Theater in MARCH.

Additionally, AS220 has decided to temporarily suspend public access to the AS220 Youth Studio, the AS220 Industries, and the AS220 Galleries. Workshops at the AS220 Industries and classes at our Dance Studio are also temporarily canceled. We will provide updates on access to these programs in the coming weeks as we know more.

As bars and restaurants are allowed to stay open, AS220 Food & Drink will keep regular business hours until further notice. Restaurant staff follow health and safety standards set by the Rhode Island Department of Health, including frequent handwashing, wearing gloves while handling food, and the use of chemical disinfectants on all surfaces, glassware, utensils and dishes. Delivery is available with GrubHub by clicking here.

If you are looking for ways to help AS220 while our public programming is shut down, you can donate online at as220.org/support. In 2019, AS220 hosted 480 live performances, 57 art exhibits, and served 6,180 artists: we count on revenue generated from these activities to continue serving our community.  Thank you for your ongoing support!

If you want to support the artists and performers who have had their events cancelled, and who will undoubtedly take a financial hit due to this situation, we are compiling a list of links to their respective online presences where you can purchase art, music, merchandise, or offer other means of financial support. We will provide this as soon as we are able.

You can contact us directly at communications@as220.org and we will do our best to reply promptly. Updates about AS220’s response to COVID-19 can be found online at as220.org/covid19. 

We continue to monitor this situation closely, and assess our response with guidance from the CDC, State of Rhode Island, and the City of Providence, and will provide updates as necessary. The health and safety of our staff, residents, and community remains our top priority.