**PRESS COVERAGE**
@bylinesnetwork.bsky.social has published an article on the Protect the Heart of the Arts BAFTAs Long COVID ribbon giveaway.
The event will be Sunday 18 Feb.
Likes/shares help get the word out! โค๏ธโค๏ธ
bylines.cymru/arts-and-cul...
@neilhimself.neilgaiman.com @jerilryan.bsky.social
Anything resonate with the HIV-AIDS situation in 80s-90s? I'm old enough to remember. China are now treating SARS2 same way. Since the Wuhan (smoking guns), people go "back home" to recover (or die). After 4 yrs now, I simply want a care-home bed. #LongCovid is killing us, slowly but assuredly.
Really great project in Great Britain!
COVID is an Arts Leadership issue
The stars have aligned in recent weeks. An amazing number of this criticโs circle of acquaintances have succumbed to COVID-19 in recent weeks. Rather than a few sniffles for a day or two, the majority have been laid low for between one and two weeks and even five or six weeks afterwards are still suffering from serious symptoms, especially fatigue. One even spent a week in hospital. Secondly, a press release was issued from the grassroots advocacy campaign โProtect the Heart of the Artsโ announcing that it was sounding the alarm on the Long COVID crisis for performing artists, of which more later. Thirdly, a critic-friend has been very unlucky of late, since a number of performances that she was planning to review were cancelled at very short notice due to illness, which she assumes was down to COVID.
**MORE PRESS**
British Theatre Guide covered โProtect the Heart of the Arts,โ sounding the alarm on the Long Covid crisis in the performing arts.
Editor Philip Fisher mentions critics & performers ill for weeks with Covid.
www.britishtheatreguide.info/features/ala...
cc @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com
Screenshot of NZ Radioโs news. Text: Arts News Sunday 17 December.
**MORE PRESS COVERAGE**
Radio New Zealand โ NZโs equivalent of BBC Radio โ covered the โProtect the Heart of the Artsโ mask handout at David Tennantโs Macbeth.
Performers with Long Covid sounded the alarm on the Long Covid crisis in the performing arts.
www.rnz.co.nz
cc @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com
Congrats to movement member Damian Fell for passing his MA thesis defence with 98%(!!).
just finished the defence of my thesis on Good Omens. got excellent results - 98%!!!
it was a great pleasure and an even bigger honour to research your and Terry Pratchett's work, @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com
Well done!!
Excellent. Fans protecting artists for the win.
#CovidIsAirborne #CovidIsNotOver
#ProtectTheHeartOfTheArts
@DonmarWarehouse for Macbeth starring #DavidTennant
COVID safe performances and venues for punters and players ๐ท
London ๐ฌ๐ง and the world ๐บ๏ธ
*PRESS COVERAGE!*
Bylines Cymruโs๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ article on โProtect the Heart of the Artsโ mask hand-out at David Tennantโs Macbeth.
Performers with Long Covid will sound the alarm on Covidโs devastating impact on performing arts.๐ท
TONIGHT Sat 16 Dec 6 pm, Donmar Warehouse, London.
@neilhimself.neilgaiman.com
โAlas, poor country!โ: performers suffering from long Covid to distribute masks at David Tennantโs Macbeth tonight
Performing artists, staff, and patrons are impacted by long Covid. Venues need mitigations including masks. Covid is airborne and not over.
Vaccines and masks. So easy to prevent killing and disabling people !
Invitation. Purple rectangle. Text: Protect the heart of the arts. London Mask Hand-out. Donmar Warehouse 41 Earlham Street London. Sat 16 Dec 6-7:30 pm.
**LONDON MASK HAND-OUT**
#ProtectTheHeartOfTheArts, a campaign of performers suffering from Long Covid, and allies, will sound the alarm on Covidโs devastating impact on the performing arts.
Likes/shares help get the word out.
ProtectTheHeartOfTheArts.carrd.co
cc @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com
Screenshot of tumblr post. Neil Gaiman text: โI got COVID early in October and had to close down my life to recover. Yesterday afternoon I walked into my local drugstore and got this yearโs vaccine.โ
Neil Gaiman @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com has requested audience masking at his live events.๐ท๐ท
He also encourages people to stay updated on their vaccines.
Last day to enter our giveaway
๐
Thanks for clarifying. Yes, Blast and Blast Mini. We donโt have dimensions for The Donmar, so this is an estimate. Ideally, weโd want 14 litres/second/person. Weโre also asking for masking for more layered protections, especially for clinically vulnerable people during high-transmission periods.
Basically, weโve asked for more layered protections. In addition to their existing HVAC, weโve offered to donate a HEPA set-up and have offered to donate masks. As other theatres are requesting masking due to high transmission, including Ashlandโs Shakespeare Festival, we hope they follow suit.
**EXPLAINER**
After 600+ Clinically Vulnerable people supported a request for improved Covid safety, London theatre Donmar Warehouse is considering the offer of free HEPA.
We also hope for masking support.๐ท๐
www.okdoomer.io/clinically-v...
cc: @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com, @jerilryan.bsky.social
FYI Fans MASK UP has been directly lobbying Donmar Warehouse for Covid mitigations over a month. We started with a letter writing campaign, then tried to get a meeting. Accessible Air offered Donmar a free HEPA system. We are writing open letters because we have exhausted options for direct contact.
Definitely! In his second episode โNew Earth,โ the Tenth Doctor cured people of disease, then gave them all hugs.
This man is passionate about public health.โค๏ธโค๏ธ
youtu.be/S5Injt7qDTY?...
Thanks for sharing! Youโre right. Covid is a serious vascular disease with severe and cumulative damage. Weโre all vulnerable.
Last month, we published an explainer on this topic. It uses David Tennant as an example for how everyone is actually high-risk. bsky.app/profile/fans...
This is good, but it might be even better to explain that EVERYONE โ yes, even *you* โ is vulnerable when it comes to #Covid. Yes, itโs ableist, and it sucks that this has to be said, but appealing to the selfishness of many well people could help.
@neilhimself.neilgaiman.com
Hi Neil,
In case you missed this, could you share the post below?
Itโs an open letter from 300+ fans about accessibility for clincially vulnerable fans at David Tennantโs shows.
Accessible Air has offered Donmar a free HEPA set-up. They just need to say yes.
Thanks!โค๏ธ
Dear David, Your many clinically vulnerable fans are sending this open letter to ask for your support advocating for clean and accessible air at your events. Currently, we could use your help requesting HEPA air purification at Donmar Warehouse. People with clinical vulnerabilities, such as autoimmune disorders, respiratory problems, and cancer, are at high risk for severe outcomes when weโre exposed to airborne pathogens. So many of us want to see you in Macbeth. But we have had to cancel reservations, or plans to queue for day tickets, because the venue doesnโt have a HEPA air purification system that would keep us safe. Social enterprises like SmartAir UK are making HEPA air purification more affordable and accessible, and can even do a free assessment of the Donmarโs needs. A system that would keep us safe would cost approximately ยฃ5000. Accessible Air, a grassroots advocacy organisation, has offered to crowdfund one. All that the Donmar needs to do is say yes.
*OPEN LETTER TO DAVID TENNANT*
Clinically Vulnerable fans canโt safely attend events.
With support from 300+ fans, weโre sharing this letter to David. We ask for his help advocating for HEPA filtration at Donmar Warehouse where heโs playing Macbeth.
@neilhimself.neilgaiman.com Are you ok sharing?
Hi Neil, Thanks for responding! We know Davidโs not on social. Weโve sent him a letter, so this post is to get the word out about fans with clinical vulnerabilities.
Accessible Air offered Donmar a free HEPA setup, but they havenโt responded. So weโre trying to raise the profile of the campaign.
