Green light for culture
GIVE US GREEN LIGHT: Crisis Cell Culture requires a clear timetable for reopening
A perspective was promised to the culture and events sector at the consultation committee of 5 February. Three weeks later, we are done waiting: give us the green light! Reopen our industry and embrace us as part of the solution to provide entertainment and mental care in a safe and controlled environment. Meet the mental needs of so many. After being closed for almost a year (almost), the 85,000 people who work in the sector are despondent. From the individual artists, amateurs and professionals, the culture workers in the thousands of (social) cultural organizations and associations, the suppliers, ... But our general public - and certainly the group of young people - also needs to meet and connect. Culture - in all its genres and manifestations - can provide the necessary mental oxygen. Not in the margins, but as a scientifically proven answer to an essential human need. Our sector has always played this role and we now want to be able to take up that role again.
Moreover, this can be done safely and in a controlled manner: our protocols for working covid-proof have been brought up-to-date in consultation with the policy. Use us as a solution to allow people to come together in a controlled manner, also in the public space. Because we are experts in this area and we are prepared to take on our role, in function of public health. The culture and events sector is ready to get back to work and receive the public safely. Hundreds of projects are now ready to enter into a dialogue with the public, in covid-proof conditions. Foreign studies show that the chance of infection - provided the protocols are applied - is virtually nil.
The Culture Crisis Cell urges to offer the entire sector a new perspective: a phased - density-based - reopening, flanked by adjusted support measures and a plan for the full reopening of the sector, in dialogue. We ask the government to give us a clear timeline for these phases, with a clear perspective for the summer, because a summer like last year's is nothing less than the final blow. Let us restart in consultation and work on an integrated recovery plan. The action "Give us the green light" was set up with that in mind and will color numerous cultural facades throughout Belgium on Thursday evening 25 February.
Hard numbers
The figures that various authorities are now putting on the table are even more serious than thought and feared: on average, the number of events decreased by 77% in the past year, revenues fell by 87%, music festivals even recorded a decline in revenues of 99%; authors, composers see their income from copyright decline by about 80% (figures Sabam). And even more poignant: 1 in 4 artists or culture workers was already working under very precarious statutes before the corona crisis. The crisis has only made these systemic problems more acute, resulting in sad situations: like many other precarious flex workers, getting started is the only hope of sufficient income. For all those reasons: allow us to get back to work. Give us the green light to reopen in a safe, socio-economically viable framework that recognizes the role of art and culture for general mental well-being.
On February 4, “Switch Culture on” called for a restart of culture.
Still Standing made it clear on Saturday, February 20 with more than 500 actions that the standstill must be lifted.
On 25 February, the cultural facades throughout Belgium will be illuminated in green to emphasize the urgency of the restart of culture: give the green light to reopen culture in a safe, socio-economically viable framework.
#greenlightforculture #switchcultureon #dontswitchoff #stillstandingforculture #noculturenofuture #soundofsilence