As a consequence of the Covid-19 Virus pandemic, the Span Arts building in Narberth remains closed to the public for the foreseeable future.

“For the protection of our artists, audiences and volunteers, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone all of our large-scale live events and we do not expect to resume normal services until at least 2021. New social distancing measures simply make it financially unviable for us to do so,” said a spokesperson for Span Arts.

Span have been successful in securing four emergency grants, from the Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government, Moondance Foundation and PAVS Supporting Community Action Fund to help weather the crisis and to be able to continue to offer Arts at a Distance; a creative online community arts programme for the rest of the year.

“With further news of the Government announcement offering a support package to the Arts, we continue to work hard and stay positive that we can sustain the organisation through these difficult times,” they continued.

“We are also pleased to announce the appointment of our new Distance Arts Programmer Anna Sherratt, who will join the team in August to take forward our work to reduce isolation and loneliness, alleviate stress and boredom, and build community networks through engagement with the arts.

“We are pleased to have received recognition for our work in contributing to how the arts have supported the Welsh health and social care response to Covid 19 in recent NHS publications.

“We are doing everything we can to return to live events in a legal, safe and appropriate manner that considers staff, volunteers, audiences and artists alike. We believe a slow considered approach is best for the organisation to ensure the health and wellbeing of all,” added the spokesperson.

SPAN has also established a new Covid Team, made up of Trustees, staff and Volunteer representatives to plan and prepare for reopening as soon as it is safe and right to do so.

They are currently consulting with volunteers and audiences to help plan and prepare for the future, and have urged people to complete a short online survey at www.span-arts.org.uk by Friday, August 7, to help Span plan for the future.