The opening of the Minister of Culture for the greater audience was met with the laughter of many cultural leaders: – The President of the Oslo Concert Hall says that this is just Surreal nonsense.
Minister of State Anette Trettebergstuen announced Thursday night that it will be open to 1,500 people indoors and 3,000 outdoors at events with fixed seats.
The change will take effect on Friday from 12 noon.
– Increasing the number limit is a big step in the right direction and will mean a lot to organizers, audiences and artists, writes the Minister of Culture and Gender Equality.
But it is the small print that is causing the outrage in the industry.
First, only 50 percent of the seat capacity can be used. The audience will then be divided into 200 groups.
– Returned to 200
Jர்கrgen Roll, CEO of Oslo Concertos and Roverstaden, explains how the Norwegian Directorate of Health has outlined how to implement the guidelines:
– These partners will be allowed in and out as separate groups. Each group should have its own toilet facilities and changing rooms. There should be two meters between each group at all times.
– What does that mean to you?
– I do not know of any large cultural halls in Norway with adequate separate toilet areas. So we’re back to 200, just like today, says Roll.
Today, up to 200 people can attend public events at home, if there are permanent designated places. And 600 outside.
Music arranger Atlee Holstenson says directly that he is angry.
– In principle they have developed criteria for making it a standard. This is a comedy, a game of numbers.
Holstenson is the co-owner and artistic director of Stage Evenings, a privately owned stage production company that produces overnight musical instruments in Folketeatret, Oslo.
– Industry parody
– Nine out of ten halls have the same range as before. There are only two places that can accept 1500 with these criteria, namely Oslo Spectrum and Telenor Arena.
Holstenson says enough is enough.
– This is a mockery of the industry which was most tolerant during the whole epidemic and implicitly agreed to bear the burden of all the measures implemented. No support programs were implemented and we were abandoned by the Minister of Culture who is celebrating it as a success.
Jர்கrgen Roll also lamented that he did not put his fingers in the middle and that anyone with the ability to organize was not included in the ratings.
– Unfortunately, this does not help us. It’s all night long, a cultural-political scandal.
New professional advice
The rules have been changed shortly after the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Occupational Health published new professional advice.
They suggested what the government was introducing. The professional basis was presented to the Ministry of Health and Care Services on 18 January.
The NIPH considers that the proposed increase would help somewhat increase the risk of infection, but they still believe that it is reasonable and proportionate.
One-third of the capacity
Olav Munch, director of Creek Hall in Bergen, was not happy with the change.
– This cannot be exploited as Creek Hall must be collectively divided. We have a maximum of three groups of 200 people each. This means we can only use a third of our capacity, Munch says Pergens Tidende.
Munch hoped to fill 50 per cent of Creek Hall.
At Creek Hall, there is seating for 1,600 spectators.
– We have big foyers and people can use masks. Keeping your distance would not have been a problem, says Munch.
– We are not where we should be
Employers’ Organization President Work Culture and Experiences Rhiannon Hovden writes that for Edwards VG this is an important place in the right direction.
He is pleased that the Minister of Culture is following the promise of more openness to cultural life, but calls for further relief.
“We are not yet where we should be, there are rules in cultural life like shops, bowling and bingo, so we expect more relief when the government comes up with new estimates,” says Edwards.
A Positive Voice Det Norske Teatret is the group leader at Nina Refseth.
– Now we have the opportunity to re-enact cultural life, says Refset Vijay.
He criticizes the authorities for planning and waiting until the end to consider reopening cultural events.
– means that you are struggling to see the inherent value of culture. So it is very pleasing. I hope this is the last time we see more stringent restrictions.
New rating in February
In early February, the government will make a new assessment of infection control measures.
– Then, I hope to be able to open up more to events with and without standard allotted spaces, says Culture Minister Anette Trettebergstuen.
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