PPAC and The VETS Become the Only Performing Arts Theatres in New England to Receive GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation
Providence, RI – The Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) and The Veterans Memorial Auditorium (The VETS) have announced that they have achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. PPAC and The VETS are the first performing arts theatres in New England to achieve full GBAC STAR™ accreditation. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, PPAC and The VETS have implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in their facilities.
As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR™ helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. The program verifies that PPAC and The VETS implement best practices to prepare for, respond to, and recover from outbreaks and pandemics.
“We are pleased to be one of the first performing arts theatres in New England to receive GBAC STAR™ accreditation; this is a great achievement for PPAC and
The VETS!” said PPAC General Manager Alan Chille. “Our patrons can rest assured that we are following the best health and safety protocols for when they return to PPAC in October for our season opener, PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL.”
“We cannot wait to welcome guests back to The VETS,” said The VETS General Manager Dan Schwartz. “The GBAC STAR™ accreditation ensures our commitment to the highest health and safety standards in the industry for our returning patrons, artists, and staff.”
“GBAC STAR accreditation empowers facility owners and managers to assure workers, customers and key stakeholders that they have proven systems in place to maintain clean and healthy environments,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “By taking this important step to pursue GBAC STAR, PPAC and The VETS have received third-party validation that it follows strict protocols for biorisk situations, thereby demonstrating its preparedness and commitment to operating safely.”
To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation, PPAC and The VETS were required to demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 core elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures. Learn more about GBAC STAR accreditation at www.gbac.org.
About the Providence Performing Arts Center
The Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) presents a full roster of touring Broadway productions and contemporary engagements. Broadway will be back for the 2021/2022 season in October 2021 with season opener PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL, followed by a return engagement of HAMILTON. PPAC is a 3100-seat, world class venue located in the heart of Providence’s arts and entertainment district; it is the second largest theatre of its kind in the country. The Loew’s Theatre Building, which is the historic home of PPAC, opened in October 1928 and has been applauded for its beauty and grandeur. PPAC is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been ranked by Pollstar as one of the Top Venues in the world. View PPAC’s season line-up at
https://www.ppacri.org/events-tickets/2021-2022-season/
About THE VETS
Since 1950, The VETS has held a unique place in the cultural life of Rhode Island as a performance venue for legendary artists, local performers and community traditions. The 1900-seat theater celebrates flawless acoustics and an exquisite interior with a one-of-a-kind ceiling featuring the shields of Rhode Island’s original 39 communities. On the National Register of Historic Places, recent updates transformed The VETS into a state-of-the-art performance facility. The VETS is overseen by the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority (RICCA) as part of the Rhode Island Convention and Entertainment Complex. It is managed by Professional Facilities Management (PFM).
About GBAC, a Division of ISSA
Composed of international leaders in the field of microbial-pathogenic threat analysis, mitigation, response and recovery, the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, provides training, guidance, accreditation, certification, crisis management assistance and leadership to government, commercial and private entities looking to mitigate, quickly address and/or recover from biological threats and real-time crises. The organization’s services include biorisk management program assessment and training, Forensic Restoration® response and remediation, the GBAC STAR™ facility accreditation program, training and certification of individuals and consulting for building owners and facility managers. For more information, visit www.gbac.org.
About ISSA
With more than 9,300 members—including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners and associated service members—ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Northbrook, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Mainz, Germany; Whitby, Canada; Parramatta, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800.
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PPAC Media Contacts:
P.J. Prokop, Director of Marketing: (401) 574-3103 / pjprokop@ppacri.org
Caitlyn DiPompo, Marketing Projects Specialist: (401) 574-3112 / cdipompo@ppacri.org
The VETS Media Contact
Michael Gravison, Director of Marketing: (401) 222-1467 / mgravison@pfmcorp.com