Reopening without masks or insurance places productions at risk

England's cultural venues can reopen without restrictions from Stage 4, expected on July 19.

Social distancing and capacity limits will end, as will the "legal obligation to wear a face covering" though it is still recommended in enclosed public spaces, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday (July 5) – the one year anniversary of the Culture Recovery Fund.

The July 19 date has not been confirmed. However, the likelihood restrictions will be retracted as Covid case numbers grow – mask wearing especially – has raised eyebrows across the cultural sector.

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People must isolate if they test positive or are told to by the NHS, placing productions at risk.  

London Coliseum cancelled a matinee performance of Hairspray on Sunday (July 4) due to a suspected case of Covid-19 only to later cancel a week's worth of shows when a production member tested positive.

Royal Ballet cancelled performances and postponed its latest season last week after several dancers were forced to self isolate.

And while some resalers are offering cancellation cover in addition to event ticket prices, consumer watchdog Which? warns event organisers are obliged to refund anyone who is told to self-isolate, can't attend due to a local lockdown or in the event of another national lockdown.

Whispers of a possible Government insurance scheme for live events have been circulating but the DCMS is yet to confirm anything.

Without it, "the precarity of the pandemic is set to get worse", Equity General Secretary Paul Fleming said.

"There’s no word on insurances for theatre and live entertainment, and no meaningful guidance as to what a new testing and isolation regime should mean.

"There’s no confidence that future lockdowns won’t happen and no strategy to engage the unions… to figure out a backup plan."

Furlough and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) are still set to end in September, Fleming noted.

'Personal responsibility'

Johnson's comments have once again placed the onus on the cultural sector to prevent transmission at financial cost.

The PM is advocating "personal responsibility" and appealing for the public to use their common sense in stopping the virus' spread. Vaccine passports have been shelved but event organisers can establish their own systems or use the NHS app, which shows Covid status.

Recent research indicates audiences still want restrictions: 22% consider masks "essential" to returning to cultural spaces and a third feel the same about socially distanced seating, according to the Culture Restart Audience Tracker.

75% of respondents to a study commissioned by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) said they aren't ready for restrictions to be removed even if the Government is.

Fleming described the Government's approach as "privatising public health decisions by pushing them onto producers, venues and working people".

Venues may stipulate mask wearing as a condition of entry but could face difficulties enforcing what would no longer be a legal requirement. 

Independent arts consultant Roger Tomlinson asked: "How will attenders react if significant minority won’t wear one? What can managers do?"

Museum workers on Twitter asked each other for a plan to ensure visitors' safety, with some pointing to new guidelines from ALVA that recommends maintaining reduced capacity, face masks and timed entry ticketing.

The organisation says it hopes to help attractions balance their legal obligations with a duty of care.

"Attractions, like all businesses, have the right to refuse entry or service, as long as that right is not based on any discriminatory basis," it advises.

Music Venue Trust too is consulting with members to establish best practice: "This announcement is hugely important and provides the opportunity to revive live music. It does not, however, change the central mission or the importance of the word ‘safely.'" 

Theatres Trust Director Jon Morgan said he was "encouraged" by mention of a new regime that could exempt the fully vaccinated contacts of people who test positive from self-isolation.

"[We] look forward to hearing the details."

'Desperate need'

Calls for a Government-backed insurance scheme have only grown louder following Monday's announcement.

Associations welcomed the enthusiasm for full reopening with a note of caution.

"The last year has taught us that nothing can be taken for granted," LIVE CEO Greg Parmley said.

"If the Government wants the industry to bounce back… they need to provide a Government-backed insurance shceme to give organisers the confidence and security they still desperately need."

UK Music CEO Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said talk about restrictions possibly being reimposed in autumn and winter mean organisers have no security beyond summer.

Modelling from the University of Bristol suggests a third wave is coming this summer, with a huge spike in cases as restrictions ease but a smaller rise in deaths due to the vaccination programme.

Professor Philip Thomas says this wave may be the last.

"Despite fears to the contrary, there will be no winter wave as there will not be enough susceptible people left to infect," he wrote for The Spectator.

Scotland is due to move to Level Zero on July 19, with all other restrictions removed on August 9. People will still be expected to wear masks.

Wales reviews its restrictions next week and Northern Ireland does so on Wednesday July 8.