Officials at Maryville College, including Clayton Center for the Arts, continue to monitor reports issued daily by state and local health officials, as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of State.
This page has been created to keep all of our constituents informed about global and national developments, decisions made with regard to the MC community and precautions taken on campus against the introduction and spread of the disease.
Update August 15, 2022
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the COVID-19 community transmission level for Blount County is currently medium. Those who are at high risk for severe illness should talk to their healthcare provider about whether they need to wear a mask and take other precautions. Everyone should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms.
While Maryville College and the Clayton Center for the Arts do not have a mask requirement at this time, we encourage members of our campus community to continue to take steps to protect their health and safety and that of others. We support mask wearing indoors, in large crowds, and in any setting where individuals feel it is in their best interest.
Update January 5, 2022
As we continue to manage operations through the on-going COVID-19 situation, we want to make you aware of a change that may impact your attendance at one or more of our touring shows taking place in the new calendar year.
For all Clayton Center for the Arts events, COVID-related protocols or restrictions that apply to ticketholders will be determined by individual artist requirements and/or Maryville College policy.
As the touring performers we feature navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19 across the country, all are looking for the best way to protect themselves and their touring staff as they travel. To this end, some artists are now requiring venues where they will perform, to require ticket holders to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or proof of negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours prior to entering the performance facility. This is in addition to the Clayton Center COVID-19 protocols currently in place (listed below).
In order for these shows to go on as planned, Clayton Center management has agreed to this contractual requirement. We are designing a simple process to accomplish this verification when patrons arrive at the Center prior to being allowed into the facility and will post specifics for this process on our web site – www.claytonartscenter.com. If you have tickets to a show with these additional requirements and feel you will be unable to comply by show time, please contact the Box Office at 865-981-8590 for your options.
Events will be updated with specifics, and ticketholders will be notified in advance of any changes to these policies. For events with no specific artist-driven requirements, the Clayton Center will adhere to the following minimum guidelines:
- Masks for patrons are required and must be worn at all times inside the Clayton Center unless food or beverage is being immediately consumed.
- Venue/event staff will remain masked while interacting with patrons or performers.
- Whenever feasible, Patrons should try to maintain spacing between themselves and those in their households and others.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be located through-out the Center.
- Attendees accept inherent COVID-19 risks and take full responsibility when attending any event at the Theatre.
- The Clayton Center reserves the right to alter venue-wide protocols at any time in the future based on relevant data or other mitigating factors. Some artists may elect to cancel or reschedule their shows. In the case of such a change, we will notify all ticket purchasers of any changes, update website listings accordingly, and post across our social networks.
- Artist requirements that differ from Clayton Center policy will be communicated to ticketholders and the public through our website, email, and social media as soon as possible.
Performances currently requiring proof of vaccination are:
The Wailin’ Jennys – Friday, February 11, 2022
Effective August 2, 2021, Masks are required inside the Clayton Center for the Arts.
Although things will not be back to pre-Covid normal, we are sure we can provide a wonderful experience for our loyal patrons. We will have precautions in place for the safety of our Patrons, Artists and our Staff.
We are planning to present our season with no socially distant seating. We reserve the right to require socially distant seating if deemed necessary due to a spike in cases or a change in Maryville College Covid policies. If you are not comfortable with your current seating, due to no social distancing, please contact the Box Office and we will work to accommodate you.
We reserve the right to require proof of vaccination if artists require it and/or masking, and/or testing, in their contracts. We will attempt to work with artists and our Patrons, and staff with safety in mind and will notify Patrons in advance of any change in requirements and policy.
Whether or not you are or are not vaccinated and you choose to attended events at the Clayton Center for the Arts, with or without wearing a mask, your presence acknowledges that you accept sole responsibility for health risks that may be inherent with attending events indoors.