From 1 August, indoor performing arts venues in England will be permitted to re-open with socially distanced audiences, the Government has announced. Pilot studies will be taking place in the run-up to the reopning date, with venues including London Symphony Orchestra at St Luke’s being used to refine guidelines already in place.
This move to stage 4 of the government’s 5-stage roadmap for the return of professional performing arts will mean audiences, performers and venues are all still expected to maintain social distancing at all times. This constraint means that, despite being permitted to reopen, maximum capacity will be severely reduced at many venues and performances will not be financially viable.
Equity General Secretary Christine Payne said: "We welcome the news that theatres and performance venues can reopen with social distancing in August, but the reality is the vast majority will not be opening anytime soon. Creative workers need clarity on how the arts funding package will support them to get back to work safely.
"We are deeply concerned that this money will be primarily aimed at securing the future of the buildings, not the future of the creative workers who make the art audiences come to see. Without the intervention of Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Culture Minister Oliver Dowden in directing theses funds to those most in need we are facing a loss of talent that will have devastating effects on UK culture for generations to come."