DeBartolo Performing Arts Center Announces August Safe Reopening Plan Using Venues for Fall Semester Courses
Presenting Series and Cinema Programming Postponed Until Spring
For the coming fall semester, the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center and its staff will support the University’s academic mission and coronavirus response by canceling public events. Instead, the facility’s venues are preparing for use as physically-distanced classrooms on longer teaching days. The cancellation affects the Presenting Series and Browning Cinema.
Current Presenting Series season ticket holders were notified earlier today and given options for refunds, exchanges, or account credit for fall show ticket purchases. Patrons with questions about their season tickets should call (574) 631-2800 or email performingarts@nd.edu. More information on the Center’s coronavirus response can be found here.
Executive Director Ted Barron expects the Center to open for the public in January 2021 when programming resumes. His full statement on the fall programming decision follows:
There is an innate creative passion in all of us which we ignite through inspiring, premier arts experiences.
At the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, our mission reminds our staff that it encompasses everyone, whether someone has walked through our doors before or not. Everyone.
That’s why, as we face daily reminders of our shared humanity, our mission remains the same even if the outlook for our fall season of events does not. Effective today, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel public events at the Center for the remainder of 2020.
This cancellation includes 13 Presenting Series artists and all screenings and broadcasts in the Browning Cinema.
We know many states and the University of Notre Dame are completing reopening plans. Even so, accepted safety guidelines and University policies for indoor events, along with many other factors, made providing our patrons and artists an experience up to our standards unlikely.
While we are extremely disappointed to temporarily postpone our presenting programs, we continue serving your and our community’s well-being by supporting the University as a new site for physically-distanced classrooms. Just months ago, we could not have foreseen the Leighton Concert Hall or Patricia George Decio Theatre used for learning beyond the performing and cinematic arts. But by working with the Office of the Registrar, faculty, and staff, we increase Notre Dame’s coronavirus response capacity.
Since March, we have all been challenged, committing to choices in the short term to mitigate longer-term impacts. That’s why the Center is supporting our communities’ healing and comfort until we can again welcome you and many more to premier arts experiences.
In the meantime, let’s do what is asked of us so that we can look back on these extraordinary times and find peace of mind knowing that we did the right thing.
The Center originally announced the cancellation of spring events on March 10, 2020. [READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT]
