As Fleisher continues to recover and expand operations to welcome more students, these community safety guidelines have been updated to reflect recent changes to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Centers for Disease and Control COVID-19 guidelines. Please note that this is an evolving plan and we encourage you to revisit it often.

Fleisher will open access to visitors to our galleries this fall. We will resume community events, such as Day of the Dead but will restrict large gatherings to outdoor areas.

What to expect when you arrive

Starting September 1st, we will require proof of vaccination to enter our buildings, from both visitors and students ages 18 and over. Please have your vaccination card in hand. We will also accept images of a vaccination card on your phone.

If you were vaccinated in Philadelphia and your vaccine card is either lost or damaged, contact the City of Philadelphia Health Department at 215-685-5488 or email them at covid@phila.gov and they will supply a replacement.

Students are asked to refrain from entering the building until ten minutes before their registered time.

Studio Capacity

We have slightly increased our larger classroom and studio capacity. This fall it will be reduced by approximately 60% to enable social distancing.

Our studio capacity is as follows:

• Ceramics: twelve students and one teacher or monitor
• Painting & drawing: twelve students and one teacher and model
• Jewelry: six students and one teacher or monitor
• Printmaking, etching: six students and one teacher or monitor
• Printmaking, lithography: six students and one teacher
• Screenprint: six students and one teacher
• Darkroom: six students and one teacher or monitor
• Digital Studio: eight students and one teacher
• Mosaic Studio: 10 students and one teacher

Contact Tracing

If you receive a positive COVID-19 test, please contact Vita Litvak, Fleisher’s Director of Education, at vlitvak@fleisher.org. If applicable, we will notify local public health officials, and share with them any information that will aide their efforts in contact tracing.

After public health officials are notified, Vita will inform staff and recent visitors that Fleisher has been notified that a visitor has tested positive. The individual identity of the person diagnosed with COVID-19 will remain anonymous. Upon receiving news of a positive COVID-19 test, Fleisher may close briefly for deep cleaning and disinfection. Any closures or disruption will be announced via email.

After testing positive for COVID-19, you will need a negative test result before returning onsite. Send your test results to Vita (Director of Education, vlitvak@fleisher.org) or Ro (Associate Director for Youth and Family Programming, radler@fleisher.org). If this presents significant difficulty for you or your family, please let us know and we will work with you on alternatives.

General Safety

Vaccines: We are mandating vaccinations to enter our buildings to keep you and our creative community safe while taking classes at Fleisher. You can find more information about vaccine safety and CDC recommendations on the CDC website plus you can find vaccination sites and appointments near you.

Social Distancing: all shared spaces at Fleisher will be arranged to allow for students to maintain a minimum of three feet of distance from their fellow students, studio monitors, and staff members. Students are asked to maintain that distance at all times and refrain from moving tables, chairs, easels, and other equipment in the studios.

Masks: all students must wear an appropriate mask at all times, despite their vaccination status. Your continued use of masks is deeply appreciated as a precaution to protect Fleisher’s youth as they await their chance to be protected through vaccination too.

Hand Hygiene: hand sanitizer dispensers have been added to all bathrooms and common spaces. Students are asked to use them or wash their hands with soap and hot water after entering the building and before entering any studio spaces.

Cleaning and Disinfecting: all studio spaces and bathrooms will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected at regular intervals.

Food and Drink: All food and drink is limited to the Children’s Garden. Please do not eat or drink in the active classroom studios. Please do not bring food to share in the classroom.

Air Flow: The facilities team have installed updated UV filters in our HVAC system that have improved air quality in the main building. In the 705 building we have installed air purifiers in the studios. During the summer we will keep windows opened in the studios to increase airflow. There will also be fans in each classroom. Please do not attempt to close windows or doors in the classroom.

Elevator: The capacity of the elevator will be a maximum of 3 people.

Lobby Usage: Please do not congregate in the lobby. If you have questions or purchases to make at the front desk and there are more than 5 people in the lobby, please use the gallery to wait in line.

Supplies and Storage: Students may store their belongings and supplies in their locker, if they have one. No supplies should be left in any studio between sessions.

Comment Box: If you notice an area that requires attention or have a suggestion to enhance COVID-safety, please leave a comment for us at the front desk, and we will relay to the Facilities Manager.

Disclaimer and Assumption of Risk: While Fleisher is taking the precautions listed above, there can be no assurance or guarantee that you will not contract the COVID-19 virus during your visit. You are responsible for the observance of health and safety practices recommended by public health authorities, including wearing a face covering at all times.

By Visiting, you agree not to come to Fleisher should you: (a) have any COVID-19 symptoms; (b) have had a positive COVID-19 test in the past 14 days; and/or (c) close contact with anyone confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19. You acknowledge that if on the day of your planned visit, you have any of the Restrictions, you agree not to come to Fleisher.

All of us at Fleisher deeply appreciate your adherence to these policies and your willingness to share health information to keep our creative community safe. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us via email at info@fleisher.org.