BC cultural leaders put forward suggestions to provincial government for safe re-opening of cinemas, theatres amid pandemic restrictions
Professional Performing Arts Venues and Independent Cinemas is hoping for reclassification and a cooperative approach to operating safely anew
Photo by Markus Spiske Unsplash
WITH COVID-19 PUBLIC-health restrictions in effect throughout B.C. indefinitely, theatres and cinemas continue to sit dark.
The current restrictions date back to November 19, when the province released a public health order saying “events and social gatherings” for under 50 people were banned. The definition of events includes performing-arts theatres and cinemas.
Now, a new informal working group is asking that such establishments be classified separately and distinctly from events and social gatherings.
Called the Professional Performing Arts Venues and Independent Cinemas, the group is hoping to work collaboratively with the B.C. government to come to a solution that, first and foremost, keeps people safe while also allowing venues to re-open and operate in modified ways in accordance with all of the latest public-health regulations.
Donna Spencer, artistic producer of the Firehall Arts Centre and one of its founding directors, says that cultural leaders from throughout the province have created a draft list of suggested operating procedures and submitted it to the B.C. Ministry of Health and the Office of the Provincial Health Officer for feedback and discussion.
The proposed measures are based on current public-health guidelines—including those for restaurants, bars, retail, and events and social gatherings—and also include venues’ own rigorous COVID-19 procedures and policies that had been established prior to the shutdowns.
“As a working group of cultural leaders, we have submitted a request for reclassification along with potential orders to work under during the restricted period,” Spencer said. (The reclassification would be from “events and social gatherings” to “professional performing arts venues and independent cinemas”.)
The group submitted the list of suggested operating guidelines to the provincial government the week of February 15 and is awaiting a response. The new tack follows a previous request for a task force, which has not been confirmed.
Spencer emphasizes that the group—which continues to grow—is hopeful that arts venues and the government will be able to work together cooperatively.
“We’re waiting for them to consider our submission,” she says, “and we understand that that process is underway.”
Brenda Leadlay, executive director of the BC Alliance for Arts + Culture, has been invited to join the province’s provincial COVID-19 Industry Engagement Table. It consists of 60 people from different sectors of the labour force. Through that, Leadlay has been able to convey specific concerns of the arts sector to the B.C. government.
“The arts sector takes public health very seriously,” Leadlay says. “We want to make sure if this [a pandemic or other such circumstance] were to happen again, the arts and culture sector would like to be distinguished from other live events, just like sports have been.
“We want to build relationships with the Public Health Office to bring people together, to connect people, and assist in the dissemination of information,” she says. “We want to work together in the spirit of helping everyone.
Stir has previously reported on local responses to the shutdowns (including various cancellations of productions due to restrictions) and has interviewed Honourable Melanie Mark, Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.
Stir will continue to follow this story as it develops.
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