News

The latest announcement by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) states that all its theatres will be closed until Sunday 28 June. SOLT has been cancelling performances across the West End on a rolling basis in line Government advice, but warns: "This does not mean theatres will reopen on 29 June; if further cancellations are necessary they will continue to be announced on a rolling basis. Different theatres and productions are likely to reopen at different times." Theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh is pessimistic in his predictions for reopening though. He told BBC Radio 2's Michael Ball that theatres won’t be able to reopen until 2021 as a result of social distancing measures: "I think from the moment social distancing doesn’t exist any more, it will take us four to five months to actually get the actors back together."

The total number of library service users grew in the first three weeks of lockdown, as 120,000 people joined their local libraries. E-book library loans more than tripled during the period, according to membership body Libraries Connected, and the associated extra investment in digital resources will have a long-term effect on public library services. CEO Isobel Hunter said that although library buildings remained crucial, the lockdown had accelerated the service's move to digital.

Unprecedented pressure on cash flow in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown has forced Nuffield Southampton Theatres into administration. The closure was prompted by significant refund requests coupled with few advance bookings.

The theatres' city venue comprises a 450-seat main house theatre, a 133-seat studio, screening facilities, rehearsal and workshop spaces and a bar and restaurant. It operates a second venue at the University of Southampton campus, though this is currently closed due to a university refurbishment project. A buyer for the company is being sought, though administrators recognise that future reveneus are uncertain while a reopening date and the impact of social distancing measures are unknown.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating reports of businesses failing to respect cancellation rights during the Coronavirus crisis. 4 out of 5 complaints being received by its COVID-19 Taskforce relate to cancellations and refunds. The sectors giving most cause for concern are private event bookings, holiday accommodation and childcare providers, and the CMA will be tackling these first. But it will then move on to examine other sectors, based on information received, and consumers are being encouraged to report unfair practices.

The CMA is also advising that businesses should not be profiting by ‘double recovering’ their money from the Government and from customers.

Andrea Coscelli, CEO of the CMA, said: "The current situation is throwing up challenges for everyone, including businesses, but that does not mean that consumers should be deprived of their rights at this difficult time. If we find evidence that businesses are failing to comply with consumer protection law then we will take tough enforcement action to protect those rights."

All artists and visual arts freelancers living in England and Northern Ireland who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic will be able to access a new £1.5m Emergency Fund supported by Freelands Foundation. £1m will be available to applicants living in England and £500k to those living in Northern Ireland, including those not eligible for existing public funds.

In partnership with a-n The Artists Information Company, the fund will be opening on 7th May, and will provide grants of £1,500-2,500 per person.

The Foundation has already contributed £1m to Creative Scotland’s Bridging Bursary, and £500k to Arts Council of Wales Urgent Response Fund. It hopes that “this initiative will help support the most vulnerable in the arts sector across all four nations of the UK”.

Plans to build 'The Paddock', a £4m art gallery in Sherborne, Dorset, have had to be abandoned. Dorset Council approved the project last year, but the pandemic crisis has meant that "assumptions about funding and operation that were central to the Paddock business plan can no longer be relied upon". The project would have included a cafe and become home to the town's tourist information centre, but its benefactor has judged that it can no longer proceed as planned. Sherborne Arts Trust hopes ambitions for a gallery can still be realised, abeit at a more modest scale.

Full details of how one US theatre in Pittsfield Massachusetts is planning to manage social distancing in its auditorium have been published online. To give audiences "the safest and most enjoyable experience possible", Barrington Stage Company will be introducing measures including removing every other row of seats and leaving two vacant seats between each party, which will reduce its capacity to a third of the available 520 seats. It will be disinfecting seats, armrests, countertops and other surfaces after each performance, and cancelling intervals to minimise queues for the toilets. Online purchases will be restricted to groups of 2 or 3 consecutive seats and attenders will have to bring their own masks to wear throughout.

A £100m package of additional grants from the Scottish Government will give a lifeline to some small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) and self-employed people. The package incudes £20m for enterprises in the creative, tourism and hospitality sectors, a £34m hardship fund for the newly self-employed who have been unable to access the UK coronavirus emergency support measures, and £45m for viable SMEs crucial to the Scottish economy which are at risk of permanent closure.

Creative enterprises ineligible for business rates relief will be able to claim up to £25k. Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the Scottish Government recognises "the particular impact of Covid-19 on our creative, tourism and hospitality sectors at what would normally be their busiest period".