During these times of uncertainty with speculation and misinformation surfacing across various outlets, it is natural to be concerned and ask the question "am I doing the right thing?" With this in mind, the MARC has pulled together resources from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the U.S. Federal Government and North Carolina State. As a place of recreation and well-being for residents of Rockingham County and beyond, the MARC is committed to public health and providing our audiences with the latest reputable guidelines and information to navigate the current public health crisis, as well as outlining the role of the museum.
Below are two quick guides to the Corona virus (COVID-19) and current advice from the White House (left) and CDC (right).
Below is the CDC's website which you can explore on this page, with detailed information on the national public health crisis, further nation-wide guidance, FAQ's and additional resources:
The MARC is fully committed to the safety and well-being of not only its visitors from Rockingham County and beyond, but its dedicated staff, 90+ volunteer team and around 350 members from across the U.S. With the current Federal and State guidelines and a number of our audiences falling into the higher risk categories, our first concern was the health of the communities we serve. Very early on the MARC stepped up its cleaning schedule exponentially and promoted health awareness among our staff and volunteers to reduce risk of infection and transmission. As the health crisis developed and more restrictions and guidelines were imposed, it has been decided, to further mitigate risks to our most vulnerable, that the MARC will be closed to the public until further notice.
The MARC will continue to monitor the public health developments closely and will update our website and Facebook page with the latest information and announcements. We, of course, apologize for the inconvenience and hope to be back to normal operations soon.
Reopening plan MARC has created a robust and flexible reopening plan currently being implemented in stages. You can see the plan on our 're-opening' tab HERE.
In the meantime, we hope everyone remains vigilant and safe. Should you wish to contact the MARC you can message us on our Facebook page or email: info@themarconline.org
The Distancing Diary Project
To continue our ethos of well-being and community support, the MARC has also launched the 'Distancing Diary Project'. A virtual project whose aim is to provide both an outlet and chance to anonymously contribute to future exhibitions or features on the effects of the public health crisis and social distancing. All through the sharing of your stories, thoughts and experiences on how the current health crisis affects you and those around you.
These personal histories, so often overlooked and lost, are a key piece of social history being written every day. The hope is that the project will not only give even the most vulnerable of our audiences a voice, but a chance for us all to reconnect over the oldest human past time of story telling, reflecting on the bigger question of "what it means to be human?"
You can find the 'Distancing Diary Project' page by clicking HERE