2020 Season FAQs
We have an amazing operations team who have been tirelessly working on COVID protocols and procedures – and an amazing and creative programming team who have been re-imagining SPAC on an intimate scale. We have a myriad of plans in place and are ready to walk through whatever doors may be open to us this Summer to provide art, inspiration and support for our community.
SPAC plans on utilizing the Charles R. Wood stage and our expansive outdoor space for intimate, socially distanced programs this summer in compliance with the state mandates and as long as we can ensure the safety of our guests, performers and staff.
The Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Fest Stay Home Sessions, a virtual jazz festival which will take place on June 26, 27 and 28, featuring both national and local artists, produced in partnership with Caffe Lena.
Much more virtual programming is in the planning stages – including the Festival of Young Artists; Beethoven 2020; performances by Joshua Bell, Time for Three and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center– and much more to come
Elizabeth Sobol, our President and CEO addressed SPAC’s strategy in her most recent newsletter. A link to the newsletter which is posted to our website can be found here: https://spac.org/messages/
While SPAC is perhaps best known for its summer programming from June to September, the fact is, we are a year-round programming operation.
• SPAC employs 24 full-time staff members who live and work in the Capital Region.
• Our artistic team is planning concerts, hiring artists, and curating summer residencies all year long. Crucial planning was under way for 2021 even before the COVID-19 crisis.
• The marketing staff is constantly designing, printing, and mailing our marketing collateral which takes months to produce. The marketing department is also responsible for digital and print communication strategy, press outreach and coordination, media planning, ad creation, website design and updates as well as social media strategy and implementation.
• Our education department runs year-round programs which reach 49,000 students. When the pandemic hit, they had to call an immediate halt to all in-school activity. Without missing a beat, they turned to the creation of the SPAC Learning Library – quickly making creative, arts-based, on-line content for children and families. The Learning Library continues to grow every week, filled with ever more amazing material promoting activity and creativity.
• Just like you, we have bills to pay! We can’t take out an insurance policy only for the months that our stage is open. Same for phones, internet and technology related costs, electric, water and sewer, gas, custodial equipment and supplies, etc.
• Our historic campus includes several buildings, old and new, that require constant upkeep and monitoring. We need year-round funding to maintain the integrity and beauty of these structures. SPAC is fortunate to have a dedicated team of theater operations professionals who look after and maintain our facilities. We are located in Spa State Park, however the day-to-day financial responsibility for maintenance, repairs and landscaping is shouldered by SPAC.
SPAC expects to lose more than $5 million dollars in budgeted revenues from the loss of ticket sales, concessions, rental of the theater and fundraising events. Overall, SPAC projects a potential deficit of as much as $1.3 million due to the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
The safety of our guests, performers and staff are always our first priority. While no one can be certain of what the future holds in regard to the COVID-19 virus, please be assured that we are working diligently to determine the safest way to once again bring world class performances to our stage while protecting the health and safety of everyone at the earliest possible opportunity. As we get closer to making that a reality, we will communicate all special measures that we put in place to achieve that goal.
In the hope that summer 2021 will have returned to some degree of normalcy, SPAC is holding dates for the return of New York City Ballet on July 13-17, 2021; The Philadelphia Orchestra on August 4-21, 2021; and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in August 2021, exact dates TBA.
Artistic planning for our 2021 season has been underway for several months — long before the cancellation of our 2020 classical season. While we hope to present the complete Beethoven Symphonies, it is too soon to determine whether The Philadelphia Orchestra will be able to perform the cycle in 2021. This summer however, we are exploring a virtual Beethoven festival that will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth.
As a not-for-profit organization, the loss of millions of dollars of ticket income, event sponsorships and key sources of revenue is going to hit SPAC incredibly hard. You can help keep SPAC vibrant and vital for years to come by donating your tickets. The future of SPAC is the future of Saratoga.
To thank you for your support, you and your fellow ticket donors will:
-Be invited to a special champagne reception on our new Pines Terrace, which will open in 2021
-Receive acknowledgment in the amphitheater during the 2021 season
TO DONATE: Fill out the form below or click here.
Sign up for our email list and follow us on social media.
For SPAC events, ticket holders will be contacted directly. See the below list for canceled events and click here for refund information: https://spac.org/2020-season-refund-information
For Live Nation concerts, visit: https://www.livenationentertainment.com/ticketrefund/
As we continue to monitor the current situation and confirm a date, the information will be updated on our website.
Email us at boxoffice@spac.org or call 518-584-9330 and leave a message – one of our representatives will return your call within 1 business day.
For Live Nation concerts view their policy here: https://www.livenationentertainment.com/ticketrefund/
For SPAC Events please visit https://spac.org/2020-season-refund-information
SPAC Classical Season Lawn passes will be mailed once our Box Office opens.
SPAC’s classical season has been cancelled. To receive a refund, a credit or to donate the value, visit: https://spac.org/2020-season-refund-information
If you have questions regarding your Live Nation Lawn Pass, please contact Front Gate Tickets here: https://support.frontgatetickets.com/s/article/Contact-Us
Artists and arts communities have been hit especially hard by the delays and cancellations of performances, leading to extreme financial hardship.
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) – Information on the CARES Act, grant applications for individuals and organizations, and updates on financial support for affected artists
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS – The COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund established by Broadway Cares helps artists on stage and behind the scenes get emergency health care, financial assistance and counseling.
Recording Academy/MusiCares Foundation – Artists losing revenue due to the current crisis are encouraged to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Fund through MusiCares
New York Council on the Arts – Offering additional resources for financial assistance, management support, the CARES Act, emergency grants for artists and more.
Creative Capital’s Artist Relief – A coalition led by Creative Capital has established a fund for artists in all 50 states, with opportunities to apply for up to $5,000 in financial support
Americans for the Arts – Resource and response center with additional resources and consistent updates on funding for artists
The following events have been canceled, and ticket policies can be found at point of purchase.
SPAC Events
Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival – June 27 & 28
New York City Ballet — July 14-18
The Philadelphia Orchestra — August 4-22
“Not Our First Goat Rodeo” — August 3
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center — August 9-25
For refund information, visit: https://spac.org/2020-season-refund-information
Live Nation Events
The Lumineers: III The World Tour – Saturday, June 6
Celtic Woman – Sunday, June 7, 2020
Zac Brown Band: Roar With The Lions Tour – Saturday, June 13
Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival – June 27 & 28
Donate to support SPAC
Please make a donation to support SPAC’s mission to share the uplifting, uniting and healing power of the performing arts. Your generosity allows us to continue this transformational work, so needed now more than ever. SPAC is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization, and your charitable donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by the IRS.
Minimize Risk, Flatten the Curve
At SPAC, our Administrative Office is closed to the public and office employees are working from home to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. Employees are also adhering to social distancing procedures directed by the State of New York and the Center for Disease Control. We strongly encourage our patrons to follow the same protocols and be as informed as possible from government sources. For additional daily updates on COVID-19 directives from NY State, sign up at https://www.governor.ny.gov/. Though our physical office is closed, patrons can still reach out to us at info@spac.org or call 518-584-9330 and leave a message; we will respond within 1-2 business days.