In Response to Growing COVID-19 Changes

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As COVID-19 continues to affect our community, we are determined to keep you informed on how these changes can impact Akin members. The Ontario government recently announced an Update to Public Health Measures in response to Omicron (COVID-19), temporarily moving to a modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen.

While Akin studios remain open at this time to members, we have revised our studio policies in response to the rapidly spreading and highly transmissible Omicron Variant, we continue to adjust our policies in order to protect Akin members and our community as a whole. Click here to view Akin's COVID-19 Protocol at Akin Studios.

Some additional changes in the Public Health Measures from the Ontario Government which may impact some Akin Members:

  • PCR testing and contract tracing is no longer widely available in Ontario unless you are a "high-risk" individual. The full list of who is eligible for PCR testing and contract tracing can be found here. In addition, most individuals with a positive result from a rapid antigen test will no longer be required or encouraged to get a confirmatory PCR or rapid molecular test.

  • If you have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, or if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or have tested positive for COVID-19 with a rapid test, the government is advising that you assume it is COVID-19 and you self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days. 

  • Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms who are vaccinated will be required to isolate for 105 days following the onset of symptoms. Their household contacts are also required to isolate with them. These individuals can end isolation after five days if their symptoms are improved for at least 24 hours and all public health and safety measures, such as masking and physical distancing, are followed. 

  • Individuals who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or immunocompromised will be required to isolate for a minimum of 10 days. 

  • If you have COVID-19 (or have symptoms or been in touch with someone who has) you should also notify your close contacts. A close contact is anyone you were less than two metres away from for at least 15 minutes, or multiple shorter lengths of time, without personal protective equipment in the 48 hours before your symptoms began or your positive test result, whichever came first. 

  • Employers cannot threaten, fire, or penalize an employee in any other way because the employee took or plans on taking job-protected leave due to COVID-19, and doctors notes are not required for employees to use the leave. You can learn more about job-protected leave here.

If you require assistance while isolating, visit COVID-19: Support for people. You can also contact their public health unit for many isolation supports including:

  • Use of isolation facilities;

  • Referral to community supports and agencies;

  • Mental health supports;

  • Courier and delivery supports for food and necessities;

Additional resources available to support isolation through the High Priority Communities strategy.

Please don’t hesitate to email us with any questions or concerns at info@akincollective.com

We hope the upcoming days are safe and healthy for you and your loved ones,

Akin

CreateSpace Webinar: Digitizing Your Art

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Hear from artists Yung Yemi and Samar Hejazi and learn how to document your work, present it digitally, and share it virtually.

Do you know how to leverage your experience as an artist working in public spaces after the installation and performance ends?

Digitizing your art through photography and sharing your creation process helps make your work interactive and available online to those who can’t experience it in person. Hear from artists Adeyemi Adegbesan (AKA Yung Yemi) and Samar Hejazi and learn how to document your work, present it digitally, and share it virtually in this 1.5 hour hour webinar that will support artists of all disciplines who exhibit their work in public spaces, through shared learnings about documenting your work.

 

Event Date and Time:
Thursday, April 22, 2021
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM EDT

Presented by STEPS and Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network, this workshop is offered as part of the 2021 CreateSpace BIPOC Public Art Residency through Neighbourhood Arts Network’s Making A Living Making Art program.

ASL interpretation will be provided. Please email eva@torontoarts.org by April 15, 2021 with any other accessibility requests.