This page is available to help youth orchestras and other youth and amateur ensembles begin in-person rehearsals in the coming months and will contain up-to-date information on protocols and restrictions and links to relevant documents and resources.
Update 14 March 202
There ar currently no governmental Covid-19 guidelines in relation to rehearsals.
Covid-19 risk mitigation for youth orchestras: a practical approach
Update 09 December 2021
IAYO has released, as of 09 December 2021, Covid-19 risk mitigation for youth orchestras: a practical approach. The document extends other available guidelines with specific advice for youth orchestra rehearsals. Our thanks to Wendy Arlow at Dublin Youth Orchestras for her ongoing contributions to our work on Covid-19.
Arts Council | COVID-19 Reopening Guidelines for Young People, Children and Education
Updated 07 December 2021
It is expected that new guidelines will be issued shortly and available at here.
The Arts Council has worked with the The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to develop guidance for children and young people’s arts and cultural activities. This guidance will continue to be updated in line with public health measures.
You can download The Arts Council’s Covid-19 Guidance for the Arts Sector here.
You can download The Arts Council’s Young People, Children & Education — Additional Covid-19 Guidance here.
Guidance for Youth Work Organisations
Updated 21 October 2021
This guidance is for organisations funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and affiliated organisations. These guidelines are also to be followed by ETB Schools of Music.
You can download the latest edition of the guidelines here.
Online Workshop on Risk Assessments and Policies
This workshop was presented by Peter Jordan of Slua Event Safety Consultancy describing how to plan for and manage risk in relation to Covid-19. The document her prepared for the presentation is available below.
Risk Assessment Process
A pdf of the document used in the presentation describing risk and how to manage it is available for download here.
Risk Assessment Template
Following the workshop above, a risk assessment template for returning to rehearsals has been created by a number of IAYO members with the assistance of Peter Jordan. You can download an Excel file of the template here.
Our thanks to Katharine Mac Mághnuis of Athenry Music School and Wendy Arlow of Dublin Youth Orchestras for sharing their work on this document.
Return to School Guidance for Practical Subjects in Post-Primary Schools and Centres for Education
March 2021
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance in relation to subjects that involve using equipment in order to support the safe implementation of the practical aspects of those subjects. This advice aligns with the public health advice provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) for the safe reopening of schools and educational facilities.
This advice relates specifically to Post-Primary Schools and Centres for Education and is not to be used for other settings.
Return to Work Safely Protocol: COVID-19 Specific National Protocol for Employers and Workers
09 May 2020
The Return to Work Safely Protocol is designed to support employers and workers to put measures in place that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace when the economy begins to slowly open up, following the temporary closure of most businesses during the worst phase of the current pandemic.
Download the document here.
Advice to Government in relation to realigning the Public Health Framework Approach to reducing restrictive measures into two final Phases
Return to Work Safely Protocol
COVID-19 Specific National Protocol for Employers and Workers
18 June 2020
!! This document is now be out of date but the recommendations on music may still be helpful.
Page 7 of this document refers to recommendations on singing and the playing of brass instruments (presumably including woodwind). Read the document here.
Return to Work Safely Protocol: COVID-19 Specific National Protocol for Employers and Workers
Covid-19 Induction for the Youth Sector
This induction training is provided by the National Youth Council of Ireland and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
Create a free account and take the induction here.
