We Are Virtual Through September 1: BBATX's Response to COVID-19
Editor’s note: This post is being updated in realtime to reflect our response to the City of Austin’s rapidly changing policies and guidelines regarding use of public space and gatherings surrounding COVID-19 concerns. Currently, Austin residents are encouraged to socially distance and the City is exploring another shutdown.
It's been a difficult few months, but life's a spectrum, baby. We are hanging in there and we hope you are, too. We have made a few changes to our programs in light of coronavirus and we want you to have all the right information.
Here's everything you need to know:
1.) In an abundance of caution, all of our scheduled in-person events have been postponed through September 1—and we are now entirely virtual.
We're not closing down, and we're not going anywhere. We're just being abundantly cautious and want to do all we can to flatten the corona curve. Our contracted event staff are taking a stay-cation and our production volunteers are getting a well-deserved break.
In place of our in-person events, our teams have rallied and taken the org virtual. You can access all of our new programming, as it’s announced, here.
2.) We’re resilient and amazing (and so are you)—but navigating coronavirus closures poses a few unique challenges.
We sustained a $4000 organizational loss from the cancellation of our CYBERBABES showcase on Sunday, March 15.
craftHER Market was postponed to October 3 and 4 from April 11 and 12. We’re sustained a $15,000 loss due to this postponement, too, but we are grateful to have the resources to pivot. Our vendors, many of which are small businesses and organizations themselves have been offered the option to request a refund or participate in the market this summer. All of our vendors will be given digital opportunities leading up to August to support their work (we’ve already hosted the first of those initiatives, a digital craftHER Market on April 11 and June 20).
Our residency program, which amplifies the work of 10 to 15, Texas-based women and nonbinary visual and musical artists, has been through a few shifts. All of our spring and summer showcases have been indefinitely postponed—and we're gearing up for this program’s hopeful return in Fall 2020. We are currently finding ways to virtually celebrate the work of women and nonbinary artists in our residency.
Our annual convening of minds, BABES FEST, has been postponed, too.. Having hosted more than 7500 guests and 280 artists in the last four years, we’ll now be returning for our fifth year on November 6 and 7 (either in person or digitally). To stay in the loop, you can sign up for updates at babesfest.com.
3.) With that, we are focused on resisting the anxiety spiral. Join us?
Beyond regularly checking who.int and cdc.gov, there are ways for you to give and get support through bbatx during this time.
ATTEND OUR VIRTUAL PROGRAMS: Since the COVID-19 closures began, we have taken our programs online. We've connected hundreds of creatives, entrepreneurs and leaders in our networks to resources and we've put on digital events that have been visited by the thousands in support of our community. <3 You can keep up with what we have planned here.
GET SUPPORT: Over the last few months, we’ve created a COVID-19 Resource Guide, Anti-Racism Work Resource Guide, as well as published interviews and reminders for resilience from our community. Click here to read and catch up.
SIGN UP FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP LAUNCH: We’ve been working on membership program for well over a year and this unexpected public event hiatus has made its launch paramount. Click here to get updates and join our membership when it’s live.
SUPPORT OUR RECOVERY EFFORTS: Over the next few months, we’ll be engaged in recovery efforts across our programs. This looks like asking for donations, but it also looks like promoting the hell out of our events and community. Subscribe to our bimonthly newsletter to stay in the loop or keep up with us on social media (@bossbabesatx on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter). That’s the best way to stay in the loop..
WHEN IT’S SAFE TO HUG, COME SAY HI. OK? We’ll need you!
We have been able to keep our staff employed and honor our contracts with community members, small business owners, creatives and participants in our programs. And that’s a real win. In the event anything changes, our community will be the first to know.
Please be mindful of your health and stay home. If you have any questions around coronavirus, feel free to email our production team directly at thebabes@bossbabes.org. We want you to be safe and healthy always!
Thanks for riding with us,
Jane Hervey, Founding Executive Director at bbatx
NEED SUPPORT?
On our blog, we’ve curated lists with mental health resources, community aid networks, as well as funding and job opportunities. Click here to access the resource guides.