The cultural sector may also be allowed to reopen until eight o’clock in the evening. Theaters and pop venues in Brabant, among others, are seeing a bit of perspective again, but there are plenty of snags. “We’ll wait patiently.”
There is a lot of uncertainty, that is clear. There may be exceptions for certain sectors or the start time of the evening lockdown will move in its entirety to ten o’clock. Who knows, theaters may open later than the catering industry. It’s all just a question at this point.
Despite this lack of clarity, there is still some prospect of improvement for the cultural sector in the province. Jan Wouda, director of theater Markant Uden, is relieved by the news.
“As a theater you can resume your function in society,” says Wouda. “Of course we want to give people the opportunity to experience a night out. We can also give artists a stage at the same time. That is all good news, even with limitations.”
The theater has already taken into account that the cabinet will decide on Tuesday ‘that something would be possible again’. “We haven’t moved anything that was scheduled after Tuesday. In February, the programming is even substantial,” says Gouda.
However, he is not yet flying the flag. “The problem is: there has to be support. Hardly any tickets have been sold for all performances shortly after Tuesday 25 January. After all, the public is waiting. It remains to be seen whether it makes sense for the cultural sector to open immediately.”
That decision is only made after consultation with the producers, says Wouda. “If there are only 50 or 100 people in the room when we expect 400, it is of no use to us. There will be a startup phase. So we are patiently waiting to see how the public acts in the coming week. Maybe people will run to the checkout.”
More or less the same vigilance applies to music venues, according to a bell round. A spokesperson for Poppodium 013 in Tilburg says he is quietly waiting for clarity.
“Of course we want to start planning something as soon as we open. That would be great. But what is important to us is how much audience we can allow. And how we can allow them. Suppose we are allowed to seat a maximum of thirty people, then we will not have a festive opening. Such a set-up is not in line with how we do business.”
In any case, comedienne Christel de Laat from Schijndel is very enthusiastic. “I hope that the cultural sector will be allowed to open a little longer than eight hours. And that we can go full throttle again. Geez, I’m in the mood for this. We may be allowed to open,” she says excitedly. “I hope,” she continues doubtfully.
The cabinet will discuss the OMT advice at the Catshuis on Monday. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) and Minister Ernst Kuipers (Public Health, D66) will announce their decision at a press conference.
Rutte already said on Friday after the Council of Ministers that he is “moderately optimistic” about easing the measures.
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