The health and safety of our visitors, event attendees and staff members remain our highest priority. As such, we are closely monitoring developments around the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) and sharing safeguards and best practices as outlines by federal health authorities and state and local officials.

We understand the enormous economic impact the COVID-19 outbreak is having on our local arts community. The City of Chicago is aggressively exploring financial supports for this sector, and we will announce details as they become available.

As of March 15, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings recommend​ that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States. The current recommendation, along with the guidance of state officials, cancels these types of events in the City of Chicago through May 15, and Special Event Permits will not be issued.

Additionally, the Chicago Film Office is not issuing film permits through May 15.

All DCASE programming is canceled through May 15, including the following measures:

• Millennium Park is closed to the public. All events and programs are canceled;
• The Chicago Cultural Center is closed to the general public, and all programs and tours are canceled;
• The Clarke House Museum is closed, and all tours are canceled;
• Expo 72 and the City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower, including exhibitions, are closed;
• Maxwell Street Market is canceled.

Please refer to the Chicago Department of Public Health’s website chicago.gov/coronavirus, for the latest local updates on the response to COVID-19.