COVID-19 has prompted the cancellatons of several popular arts and culture events, some involving hundreds of performers or audience members.

The Rotary Club of Whitehorse said Tuesday it has made “the very hard decision” to cancel the 2020 Rotary Music and Dance Festival, scheduled from April 15-25, to protect Yukoners’ health and safety.

“The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is demonstrating that we are truly a global village,” said Ian McKenzie, the club’s president.

“This pandemic is causing major disruption and uncertainty of everyday life around the world and in Yukon. We know that this will be very disappointing for the hundreds of music and dance students and performers who have been preparing for this event all year.

“However, we feel strongly that their health and that of teachers, spectators, volunteers and venue staff is of the most importance,” McKenzie added.

“We thank our generous sponsors, performers, music and dance teachers and volunteers for your understanding and support. We look forward to working towards an amazing festival for April 13-24, 2021.”

The festival had already lost its key venue before Tuesday’s announcement. On Monday, the Yukon Arts Centre suspended its operations.

Meanwhile, the Atlin Arts and Music Festival is off for the coming summer, as is the Guild Hall’s planned production.

“In light of the global pandemic posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the Atlin Arts and Music Festival Society board of directors have decided that, in the interest of maintaining the health and safety of the Atlin community, we will postpone the 2020 festival until 2021,” the festival board said Monday.

“Our festival goers, volunteers, performers, sponsors, vendors and staff are of prime importance, and we feel strongly that our community needs to stay safe and remain healthy.

“This disease is unpredictable; we don’t know when it will stop spreading. In light of this, we have chosen to do our part to stop the transmission.”

Postponing the event “will also avoid putting everyone involved in the festival into a state of uncertainty for the next four months,” the board added.

“We regard this as a postponement because we are continuing to move forward in organizing next year’s festival, adhering to this year’s theme – Going Back to our Roots.

“After this difficult and challenging year, we believe the theme will take on a special meaning.”

The priority is to keep the Atlin community healthy and safe, the board added.

“It breaks our hearts to have to make this decision; however, this feels like the right decision given the circumstances.”

The board’s goal is to make next year’s festival an especially amazing festival, it added.

Artistic director Eric Epstein will continue to sign on more “extraordinary talent,” the board added.

It thanked its past sponsors, team leaders, volunteers, performers, vendors, staff, the community of Atlin and all its neighbours for their understanding.

“We are excited of the prospects for a less uncertain future, and we are looking forward to working with all of you in creating an exciting and incredible Festival for 2021,” the board said.

Meanwhile, “with caution, and the health and safety of our audiences, volunteers, crew and community, the Guild Hall will suspend public performances and events immediately,” the organization said Monday.

“Our upcoming production of Mr. Burns: A post electric play is cancelled until further notice.

“This is truly a heartbreaking decision given the hundreds of volunteer hours, love and commitment that has gone into our production of Mr. Burns. We are hopeful that once this crisis has passed that we will be able to present this wonderful show to you, our dedicated audience.

In light of the ban of gatherings of over 50 people announced Monday, “we are acting with an abundance of caution for our volunteers and audience and have carefully considered the tremendous impact of this decision,” the Guild said.

The Yukon Tickets box office will be in touch with patrons regarding tickets to cancelled performances.

The Guild plans to pay the production team of Mr. Burns to honour their work and in a gesture of good faith.

“We want to take care of our Guild family, as we know you are all trying to take care of each other and our community,” the Guild said.

Meanwhile, out of caution, Jazz Yukon and organizers of Café des Voix have postponed several upcoming events including Thursday’s Café des Voix at Baked Café and the March 29 Jazz on the Wing event at the Yukon Arts Centre

The March 31 edition of Café des Voix at Baked Café has also been called off, as has the April 2 presentation of Jazz in the Hall.

“We hope to re-schedule these events,” organizers said Monday.

The Yukon Artists at Work Gallery has postponed “Stories”, a show of paintings and collage originally scheduled for an April 3 opening.

“In this way, we are helping to keep all Yukoners safe,” organizers said Tuesday.

“Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause you. A new date will be announced in the future.”

The Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) said Tuesday it’s cancelling its public activities until May 1.

“The AFY is keeping a close eye on the spread of the COVID-19 virus and will review this decision at the end of April in the light of federal and territorial guidelines,” it said.

The Centre de la francophonie on Strickland Street will be open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until further notice.

The AFY is making plans to provide some direct services to members and the community, where possible, by telephone or video conference.

“The health of the community, our employees and our partners is a priority for us,” the AFY said.

“We therefore urge you to follow the health recommendations given by authorities in Canada and adopt preventative individual behaviours, which can make all the difference in a public health challenge like the one we are currently facing.”