Remainder of Spring 2020 Programs CANCELLED

March 17, 2020

Dear SAA Community,

We hope that you are well and remain so. The SAA is deeply concerned about the continued health of its members in the current pandemic of COVID-19. The San Francisco Dept. of Public Health Order No. C19-05b (revised) dated March 13, 2020 prohibits all public and private gatherings of 100 or more through April 30, 2020, the State of California has advised to cancel or postpone large gatherings, to avoid bars and restaurants, and to engage in social distancing, and the CDC’s Guidance of March 15, 2020 is to cancel or postpone all gatherings of 50 or more for the next eight weeks. The situation changes daily, and greater restrictions on movement and meetings may be coming.

In this context, the Society for Asian Art is suspending its spring 2020 programs. The list below provides the status of programs that had been scheduled and announced on the SAA’s website:

Arts of Asia Remaining lectures for the spring 2020 series (all lectures through May 2020): Cancelled.

Literature Remaining classes for the spring 2020 course on March 29 and April 5, 2020: Cancelled.

Upper Category Conversations Scheduled on March 21 and April 10, 2020: Cancelled.

Annual Book Sale Scheduled on April 3, 2020: Postponed to a date to be determined.

Excursion to Monterey and Orientations Scheduled on April 18 and 19, 2020: Cancelled.

Annual Meeting and Reception Scheduled for May 21, 2020: Reception is cancelled. The SAA is exploring alternatives to electing new board members.

Arts in Japan: Past & Future Trip scheduled for May 14-25, 2020:  Status to be determined soon, based on evolving international and domestic travel restrictions for the U.S. and Japan, federal, state and local health orders and advisories, and the practicability of the trip in light of current circumstances.

If you have registered and paid for one of the programs being cancelled, we express our sincere apologies for the inconvenience, and hope that you appreciate that the SAA has no choice but to take protective measures for its audience (most of whom are over age 60), and to adhere to government directives and guidance. The SAA will contact you separately for each program that is cancelled to outline your options. Please look for additional emails shortly.

We deeply appreciate your patience and understanding in this uncertain time and send you our continuing wishes that you and yours stay well.

Society for Asian Art Board of Directors