JohnS Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 As in so much else Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand are in a different league compared to the UK:https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/417843/government-launches-175m-arts-and-music-recovery-package 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 But also, on the same page: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/417835/covid-19-arts-sector-funding-boost-lacks-a-plan-academic ""There's been the notion of pumping that extra little bit of cash into the arts sector, but no wider vision for the absolute importance that the arts have in rebuilding not just an economy but the mental health and wellbeing of a nation. "That's why I think at the end of the day that the boost yesterday is incredibly disappointing, not because of the size of the numbers, but because of the lack of vision, the lack of an opportunity ... and the lack of ability to draw the dots together and to say the arts have a vital part to play and this is how we're going to go about doing it." Anyone want to bet the UK government will be able to do any better? Thought not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJW Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 6 minutes ago, alison said: But also, on the same page: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/417835/covid-19-arts-sector-funding-boost-lacks-a-plan-academic ""There's been the notion of pumping that extra little bit of cash into the arts sector, but no wider vision for the absolute importance that the arts have in rebuilding not just an economy but the mental health and wellbeing of a nation. "That's why I think at the end of the day that the boost yesterday is incredibly disappointing, not because of the size of the numbers, but because of the lack of vision, the lack of an opportunity ... and the lack of ability to draw the dots together and to say the arts have a vital part to play and this is how we're going to go about doing it." Anyone want to bet the UK government will be able to do any better? Thought not No probably not but governments are rarely that interested in the arts - when was the last time we had an interested arts minister - Gowrie in the 1980s, Lee in the late 60s? Top-down interventions from governments that "know best" don't usually make things better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 Birmingham Hippodrome issued a statement yesterday. The theatre has already said that it will not reopen before 2nd November because it cannot viably reopen with social distancing measures. Now the theatre is entering into a period of consultation over redundancies with the staff. It's dreadfully sad: https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/statement-from-birmingham-hippodrome-artistic-director-and-ceo-fiona-allan/?fbclid=IwAR2IVF3vzCGfjGv1mvKPoTw2TmYLQiTfnnOqcUUCtLUau7FjtHPCyRHo7Ko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/39daa004-5030-43a1-ad9a-e6aa91a71094 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 (edited) Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere already, but I found this interview with the Culture Secretary more encouraging than I expected: https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/oliver-dowden-interview-culture-secretary-arts-coronavirus-a4462456.html Edited June 9, 2020 by Lizbie1 Clarifying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scheherezade Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 So far, there would appear to be a willingness to listen, meaningful comparisons are being made and the right questions are being asked. Let’s hope that the response will be equally encouraging. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 (edited) What are people making of the Cultural Committee hearing this morning where these issues are being discussed? Edited June 9, 2020 by Bruce Wall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 2 hours ago, Bruce Wall said: What are people making of the Cultural Committee hearing this morning where these issues are being discussed? Hopefully the Committee will now put more pressure for emergency funding on the Government. The Culture Minister (Claire Dinenage) seemed to be doing here best in this regard as well, in talks with the Treasury. The high importance of the arts (and of all the subsidiary work offshoots that rely on the arts) to the UK economy, and to our social well-being, came across well, I thought. Apart from the urgent need for interim financial help, what I got from Julian Bird (Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, who seemed a very sensible fellow) was that the real practical bugbear is not so much how to ensure performers are safe (he indicated strategies were being worked out for that). Rather, as long as social distancing is needed, the question is how are audiences to be got back sitting in an auditorium in sufficient numbers for a production to be viable. Also, how to fill seats with the many foreign theatre visitors, when 14 day quarantines are in force on UK entry, although personally I don't see this measure as having a long life expectancy. There was relatively little discussion on alternative practical measures that might ease social distancing. Julian said even 1m distancing would only provide about 30% filled seats as it meant every alternate row would be out, but this seems rather pessimistic to me: I wonder whether there could not be staggering of seating in every row, and provision for closer groupings for family members? Also, I don't think anyone mentioned the audience wearing face masks, which it seems we are now supposed to do anywhere where 2m social distancing is not possible, or other measures such as compulsory hand sanitising on entry, or even forehead temperature checks. None of this is foolproof of course but it is all about minimising risks, against benefits. However I was pleased that Claire Dinenage seemed to be pursuing this issue with the health people, e.g. as to whether distancing needed to be as much, when not face to face. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 (edited) Thank you, Richard. I took some of the same highlights as your good self. Key I thought were the three items/plans specifically highlighted in Sam Mendes' FT article on Saturday - all championed by the three cultural specialists being interviewed - and all dealing with routes to ensure fiscal survival of both individual artists and cultural institutions for what seemed clearly destined to be a prolonged lull (including having the Government act as an 'angel/investor' for cultural initiatives, both commercial and otherwise). Latterly - in the interview with the actual Government arm - the DCMS decision to focus ongoing support for Festival 2022 will i'm sure be welcomed by many. The Minister did say there had been active debate as to whether that should continue. The Stage has just released a report on the hearing here. The much respected Theatre by the Lake has just announced that it will cut it's Xmas show (always critical for annual budgeting) and staff. The measures follow the announcement that the government is to phase out its Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which has allowed companies to claim up to 80% of wages for staff put on paid leave. The scheme will end in October, with companies having to start paying national insurance and pension contributions from August and a percentage of the wages from September. Theatre by the Lake has said public funding accounts for 20% of the venue’s turnover, making the venue heavily reliant on income from ticket sales. Edited June 9, 2020 by Bruce Wall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 29 minutes ago, Richard LH said: The Culture Minister (Claire Dinenage) Sorry to be a pedant, but it's Caroline Dinenage (or "Fred Dinenage's daughter" if you're from my neck of the woods). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 I was very grateful to Bruce for putting up the link. I watched most of the Select Committee session and am holding onto the mention of a package of measures being announced soon. However, given that the department covers Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the needs of culture,' and the subsets within it, are very different, from the other categories and from each other, I didn't exactly feel reassured about the future of ballet/dance companies being in the forefront of people's minds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane S Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 (edited) The Opera House in Copenhagen reopened on Sunday with a concert featuring the entire orchestra and a choir - it was filmed so you can see here what the arrangements look like. The stage is extended well into the stalls seating area and there is room behind the orchestra for the choir and soloists. For the audience, alternate seats in every row are cordoned off. There was no interval. On the same page there's a video showing Kasper Holten (the Theatre Chief) explaining how it's going to be - in very fast Danish but you can see the audience arriving and the cafe. There's a page somewhere with the rules and restrictions - chiefly saying that you must arrive early as the rows will be 'boarded' from the centre outwards so that no-one has to push past already seated people - easier there than at Covent Garden as there is only one block in the stalls - odds and evens are on different sides so the seat numbers go 47 45 43 ..........................5 3 1 2 4 6 ............................44 46 48 The audeince seems enthusiastic and there's a standing ovation at the end - I guess that will happen everywhere at the first post-closure performance, Would you go with an arrangement like that? Edited June 9, 2020 by Jane S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 (edited) Thanks, Jane, for this. I think in modern designed theatres with large lobbies and larger seats (than, say, British - or, indeed, Danish Victorian venues) this might be apt. You could certainly see this attempted with, say, the Lowry Theatre in Greater Manchester, the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, The Bridge Theatre in London or at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff - or, indeed, in open air venues - such as the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre - although that organisation has already cancelled the entirety of its 2020 Season. I think it would be much more hazardous - certainly challenging - within the current climate - inside more historic venues/auditoriums. Edited June 9, 2020 by Bruce Wall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Lizbie1 said: Sorry to be a pedant, but it's Caroline Dinenage (or "Fred Dinenage's daughter" if you're from my neck of the woods). Yes, no need to apologise, my mistake! But I did wonder about the family connection.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Jane S said: For the audience, alternate seats in every row are cordoned off. The video shows every row is used, albeit with space restrictions, but no complete closure of every other row. This looks like the sort of arrangement I mooted above. Personally, I would be fine with this, in answer to your query Jane....although presumably it still means only 50% attendance, and how viable that will be would depend on a whole range of other variables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 3 hours ago, Bruce Wall said: Thanks, Jane, for this. I think in modern designed theatres with large lobbies and larger seats (than, say, British - or, indeed, Danish Victorian venues) this might be apt. You could certainly see this attempted with, say, the Lowry Theatre in Greater Manchester, the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, The Bridge Theatre in London or at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff - or, indeed, in open air venues - such as the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre - although that organisation has already cancelled the entirety of its 2020 Season. I think it would be much more hazardous - certainly challenging - within the current climate - inside more historic venues/auditoriums. The Lowry is in the City of Salford. I don't think it would be feasible as I don't find there to be much leg room between the rows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 11 hours ago, Jan McNulty said: Birmingham Hippodrome issued a statement yesterday. The theatre has already said that it will not reopen before 2nd November because it cannot viably reopen with social distancing measures. Now the theatre is entering into a period of consultation over redundancies with the staff. It's dreadfully sad: https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/statement-from-birmingham-hippodrome-artistic-director-and-ceo-fiona-allan/?fbclid=IwAR2IVF3vzCGfjGv1mvKPoTw2TmYLQiTfnnOqcUUCtLUau7FjtHPCyRHo7Ko I've only just registered the contents of this link.? Where does tat leave BRB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 It leaves BRB with no Autumn season. The best we can hope for is The Nutcracker, which opens at the end of November. The Hippodrome hasn't said that it is closing altogether. I expect it will be backroom staff, bar and restaurant staff and maybe fewer in the box office who will go. I suppose the paid ushers will be replaced by volunteers. More and more theatres seem to operate with a couple of duty managers and volunteer ushers. The Lowry has always operated this way. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 There is a problem with what you say, Jan. I don't think staff can be made redundant one minute and volunteers used to fill their places the next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 No, because it's technically the post which is redundant. I believe there's something like a 6-month wait before a post can be reinstated - even if it's filled by a volunteer, I would think. But I may be out of date on the redundancy regulations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted June 10, 2020 Share Posted June 10, 2020 7 hours ago, alison said: No, because it's technically the post which is redundant. I believe there's something like a 6-month wait before a post can be reinstated - even if it's filled by a volunteer, I would think. But I may be out of date on the redundancy regulations. Though I think companies do sometimes find ways round this sort of thing by re-jigging job descriptions/functions so that they're not exactly reinstating the same post/s. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 10, 2020 Share Posted June 10, 2020 48 minutes ago, bridiem said: Though I think companies do sometimes find ways round this sort of thing by re-jigging job descriptions/functions so that they're not exactly reinstating the same post/s. I know they do. I was told my job was going. I was fortunate, I managed to escape on an early retirement scheme rather than having to relocate geographically. Two months after I had finished an ex-colleague announced on FB that he had been promoted and had a new job. When I asked what it was and he described it, it was essentially my old job with a different title and subtly worded changes to the job description!!! I didn't care because I had escaped! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 10, 2020 Share Posted June 10, 2020 I'm beyond words... https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/jun/09/majority-of-uk-theatres-and-music-venues-face-permanent-shutdown 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheilaC Posted June 10, 2020 Share Posted June 10, 2020 We all need to contact our MPs, especially those of us living in Conservative constituencies, to remind them of the dangers exposed by the Commons Culture Select Committee. I didn't feel that Caroline Dinenage was as effective as some people asserted yesterday, I thought the (Conservative) chair implied she wasn't pushing the Treasury hard enough. (I don't think of her as Fred D's daughter, but as the niece of my best friend when I was at junior school near Birmingham, so I knew Caroline's father, who was my friend Mavis's older brother; unfortunately we went to different secondary schools and eventually lost touch). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted June 10, 2020 Share Posted June 10, 2020 In a similar light to Jan's ... and the same publication ... https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jun/10/orchestras-might-not-survive-after-coronavirus-pandemic-uk-conductors 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 If you are going to do restorative work/renovations this surely is the perfect period to do it. Both the Garnier and Bastille will be closed through the winter for such programmes ... https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/news/stage-renovation-work-at-the-paris-opera-from-july-2020 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 In a letter sent to the PM by 150 Peers and MP's on 11th June it is noted: "While many other sectors will be able to gradually reopen under current measures, theatres cannot." Source: https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/coronavirus-mps-and-peers-call-on-boris-johnson-for-theatre-rescue-deal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 I could wish they had extended the scope of that letter to cover more performing arts venues and companies/music groups in general, as they will be equally affected. This is a time for related interest groups to come together, not contract around their narrower interests. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulcinella Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Just received an email to say the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff has cancelled all performances until 17th January 2021. Not many major dance companies go there (although BRB did perform there a few years ago) but all the big musicals go there, similar receiving house to the B'ham Hippodrome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted June 13, 2020 Share Posted June 13, 2020 Some interesting takes on this 'Future of Theatre' discussion here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aruna S Posted June 14, 2020 Share Posted June 14, 2020 On 11/06/2020 at 19:42, Bruce Wall said: If you are going to do restorative work/renovations this surely is the perfect period to do it. Both the Garnier and Bastille will be closed through the winter for such programmes ... https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/news/stage-renovation-work-at-the-paris-opera-from-july-2020 Woe, woe woe! I hadn't seen anything about this, and have tickets for the Ring Cycle in November which is clearly not going to proceed as scheduled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 158 MPs and peers have put pressure on Boris Johnson to safeguard the theatre industry: https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/158-mps-and-peers-pressure-boris-johnson-to-safeguard-theatre-industry-during-coronavirus-crisis?fbclid=IwAR2quyVO7vNt-VZnAcirG34PkeeM_xsp-6kDW1RMN6-FwQK7xsRy7z7udBY 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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