3/20/2020: Cancellation of Anime Central 2020
We want to thank all of you for being patient with us while we have been monitoring the spread of the coronavirus and what that means for the event and your safety. We have been working closely with our internal teams and external partners to fully grasp and understand all the options available to us, and most importantly, if we would be able to deliver the same quality of an event safely.
With that being said, it is with the heaviest of hearts that we are announcing that we are canceling the Anime Central 2020 event slated for May 15-17, 2020. Our Board of Directors and Anime Central Leaders did not come to this decision lightly, and carefully considered all the options available to us. One of the options was to reschedule the event for later in the year; however, we came to the conclusion that the quality of the event would not be the same. In addition, it would also pull resources and planning time away from the next convention Anime Central 2021. Our 2021 convention will be held May 21-23, 2021.
3/16/2020: Coronavirus Update
On March 12, 2020 the state of Illinois put a ban on gatherings of more than 250 people until May 1, 2020. On March 15, 2020 the CDC released guidelines regarding large events of over 50 people asking for them to be canceled for the next 8 weeks (up to May 10th, 2020). As it stands, we have not canceled Anime Central 2020 which is scheduled for May 15-17, 2020 and continue to work hard on the event. Like many other conventions, Anime Central is an intense labor of love and our volunteer staff are doing everything they can to monitor and adapt to the daily changing information regarding COVID-19. We will closely be following local and national public health regulations and news.
In the event that we are required to cancel Anime Central, we will be automatically rolling over memberships to Anime Central 2021. For those who are unable to attend Anime Central 2021, we will open an application to request refunds. In the case of Vendors and Artists, we will be offering the ability to roll-over their booth and payment for Anime Central 2021 or a refund. If refunded they are welcome to apply again for 2021 when applications open.
In addition, we are working with our hotel partners to figure out what this would mean for your hotel reservations/deposits and will update as we have information.
We thank you for your patience as we all work through this tough time and we thank you for your continued support.
Helpful Links to monitor the situation
- https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/
- Link to Governor Pritzker’s March 12, 2020 statement
2/29/2020: Initial Statement
The Anime Central 2020 event is proceeding as planned unless otherwise advised. We are following local and national public health closely. The World Health Organization’s recommendation is that travelers practice usual precautions. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as necessary.
This year at Anime Central you will see an increase in public health messaging (physical and social), additional hygiene/sanitation stations, and cleaning/disinfecting of frequently touched objects and surfaces.
In the meantime, we encourage you to become familiar with the World Health Organization’s suggested safety precautions, which include:
- Washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
- When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- Stay home or in your hotel if you have a fever
Helpful Links to monitor the situation
The above is general safety information and not intended as a comprehensive guide.
