These continue to be trying times. We hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy and safe. We are closely watching the progress of companies and organizations throughout Georgia as they begin to re-open for business. We here at RiverCenter miss the opportunity to present exciting artists and national Broadway tours, but most importantly, we miss seeing and interacting with you! Last year, more than 60,000 people walked through our doors and trusted RiverCenter to provide an unparalleled entertainment experience. We delivered on that expectation and we will do so again in the near future.

While we are encouraged to hear updates from our local, state and national officials, we also want to hear from you. We know you have questions and we are here to provide as much information as we currently can. Our dedicated box office staff will reach out in the coming weeks to answer questions, update records and provide information on what matters to you now. For example, we are happy to provide details on "touchless ticketing" options that allow you to print tickets from home or save a ticket directly to your smartphone. This is a recent addition that we hope will be highly appreciated and well utilized by valued patrons like yourself.

Our preparations for re-opening also include a number of other measures:  

• We’ve researched best practices to guarantee venue cleanliness and safeguard our patrons’ well-being. Our standard operating procedure when our doors re-open, is frequent and ongoing deep cleaning and sanitization with antimicrobial and antibacterial solutions that meet or exceed industry standards. Additional hand sanitizer stations have been placed throughout the lobby and disinfectant seat wipes will be available to patrons. Masks will be worn by all staff members and audience members will also be encouraged to wear a mask.  We may also stagger entry times to the lobbies and theatres to reduce crowding and congestion. 

• We’re committed to providing an environment that fosters arts and cultural education. RiverCenter is pleased to announce the development of a new resource for teachers and parents who are assisting students with online education. Our website now includes an education page that features numerous curriculum-based arts projects developed by RiverCenter Teaching Artists, as well as local and national arts resources.

• RiverCenter will participate in a national cultural survey to obtain input on the role of culture and the arts in the lives of Americans in response to the pandemic. Many of you will receive an email, which will be sent out in three waves over the next several weeks, and your answers will be invaluable in helping us strategically plan for a post-pandemic recovery. It takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and participants will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card. 

• With the COVID-19 crisis, RiverCenter faces a growing challenge to continue our mission, so we have launched the RiverCenter Recovery Fund to mitigate the financial losses caused by the cancellation of the last half of our season and the challenges ahead in what promises to be an extended recovery period. If you are able, we hope you will consider making a tax-deductible gift.

   

   

   

   

   

   

RiverCenter is a reflection of what Columbus has grown to become: a growing downtown retail and dining district, a thriving cultural arts destination, and a community of individuals, businesses and organizations that come together to support each other during difficult times.

And so in the midst of the current uncertainty, we want to say ‘thank you.’ Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your continued support. Thank you for your trust, your optimism and your excitement for what is to come. It buoys us and keeps us going. None of what we do is possible without you and we are grateful for your ongoing support.

When we re-open, we will be a part of the healing that will bring Columbus back to normalcy again. This is just an intermission – the show will go on! And we can’t wait to see you again soon!