British Columbia officials plan to meet next week with arts organizations whoB次元官网网址檝e felt shut out of conversations about reopening plans during the pandemic.
Donna Spencer, artistic producer of Firehall Arts Centre in Vancouver, says sheB次元官网网址檒l be meeting with Melanie Mark, B.C.B次元官网网址檚 minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport, as well as provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and/or her deputy, Dr. Brian Emerson.
The meeting also may include members of a task force Spencer created involving more than 100 arts organizations across the province, including the BC Touring Council, the Arts Club Theatre Company, and the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance.
Spencer and other arts leaders in parts of Canada have expressed frustration over a lack of communication from officials, who have imposed greater restrictions on movie theatres and live performance venues than other businesses during the pandemic.
They say the restrictions on their sector are unfair, hypocritical and lack scientific evidence. And theyB次元官网网址檝e sent letters, protocol guidelines and data showing their arts venues are just as safe B次元官网网址� if not safer B次元官网网址� than some of the businesses that are allowed to run.
Next weekB次元官网网址檚 meeting is B次元官网网址渇inally some good newsB次元官网网址� after months of waiting for answers, says Spencer, who noted in a recent interview that itB次元官网网址檚 been B次元官网网址渧ery frustrating for arts organizations that are running venues to be excluded from the conversation.B次元官网网址�
Corinne Lea, CEO of the Rio Theatre in Vancouver, said sheB次元官网网址檚 tried everything she can to start a conversation with provincial officials.
In January, she sent a letter requesting exemption from the pandemic law keeping movie theatres closed.
She also drafted a petition that has about 10,000 signatures and scientific data she says proves cinemas are safe environments to be in, and that theatres should be treated the same way as restaurants and bars.
But until news of next weekB次元官网网址檚 meeting came down Wednesday afternoon, there hadnB次元官网网址檛 been any response.
B次元官网网址淭his year has been traumatic for the arts community. People are having mental health issues,B次元官网网址� Lea said. B次元官网网址淏ut any time any of us hears that B次元官网网址榳eB次元官网网址檙e all in this together line,B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 insulting. Because clearly weB次元官网网址檙e not all in this together.
B次元官网网址淥ur industry, we feel like weB次元官网网址檝e got someoneB次元官网网址檚 boot on our throat while everyone else is carrying on as normal.B次元官网网址�
Meanwhile, New York, Los Angeles and other cities around the world have started opening some cinemas and arts venues.
B次元官网网址淭he fact that they donB次元官网网址檛 want to engage in conversation is whatB次元官网网址檚 really upsetting and concerning,B次元官网网址� said John Karastamatis, director of communications for Toronto-based theatre giant Mirvish Productions, which hasnB次元官网网址檛 been able to stage a show during the entire pandemic.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think anybody wants to put on a performing arts event and risk anybodyB次元官网网址檚 health and safety. No one wants to do that. WeB次元官网网址檙e just trying to find ways of being able to still have the performing arts and not put anybody at risk.B次元官网网址�
Henry was not made available for an interview with The Canadian Press. Instead, the B.C. Ministry of Health sent a statement saying the provincial B次元官网网址済overnment has been in conversations with members in the arts sector and will continue to listen to feedback from the community and stakeholders.B次元官网网址�
A statement from the press secretary for Ontario Culture Minister Lisa MacLeod pointed out the funding the government has given to support the arts sector in the last year and said the government looks B次元官网网址渇orward to bringing back all of our performance facilities when it is safe to do so.B次元官网网址�
In B.C., movie theatres and live performing arts venues were allowed to start operating under COVID-19 protocols in July but were shut down again in November.
However, restaurants, bars and other retail outlets have been allowed to operate under COVID-19 protocols.
And on Monday, Henry said she was working with faith leaders to safely reopen in-person religious services for Passover and Easter.
To skirt the rules, Lea rebranded the Rio Theatre as a sports bar nearly two months ago, which has allowed the venue to be open with 125 people socially distanced indoors, versus the 50-person capacity it had when it was allowed to be open as a cinema before November.
B次元官网网址淛ust because weB次元官网网址檝e got sports on our big screen, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 prevent COVID,B次元官网网址� she said,pointing out the B次元官网网址渙bvious hypocrisyB次元官网网址� of the situation.She also noted the Rio had no coronavirus cases when it was open as a cinema and she isnB次元官网网址檛 aware of any theatre thatB次元官网网址檚 had an outbreak.
In fact, her venue feels even less safe to her staff now, Lea added. ThatB次元官网网址檚 because provincial rules state the venue has to serve patrons in their seats as a sports bar,instead of selling tickets and snacks behind a glass barrier.
Lea would prefer to be open as a theatre B次元官网网址� even if itB次元官网网址檚 just with a cap of 50 people, which represents just 12 per cent of the RioB次元官网网址檚 420-seat capacity.
She also feels thereB次元官网网址檚 more risk of the virus spreading through the talking and cheering that happens in a bar versus a movie theatre, where patrons are generally quiet.
B次元官网网址淪o thatB次元官网网址檚 where I get really offended when people say, B次元官网网址楥inemas have to be closed because of science or safety,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Lea said. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 have to be a scientist to see that a glass barrier is safer than face-to-face contact.B次元官网网址�
The B.C. Ministry of Health said the Rio is able to operate as a sports bar B次元官网网址渂ecause food services, including restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, are deemed essential services and have required health and safety protocols in place.B次元官网网址�
When cinemas in Canada were running during the first and second waves, there were zero reported instances of transmission or outbreaks associated with the screenings, according to the Motion Theatre Association of Canada, which represents the exhibitors behind more than 3,000 movie screens nation-wide.
MTAC executive director Nuria Bronfman said a handful of employees called in saying they tested positive but B次元官网网址渋t was caught outside of the work environment and never transmitted to any employees.B次元官网网址�
The MTAC argues movie theatres are safer than restaurants for many reasons, including the fact that patrons are facing forward instead of at each other, and arenB次元官网网址檛 speaking with other guests.
B次元官网网址淣obody can tell us why a movie theatre is an unsafe environment, even after politicians have been in our spaces and have said our spaces are the gold standard,B次元官网网址� said Bronfman.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 obviously not data-driven and it makes public confidence go down.B次元官网网址�
Karastamatis said Mirvish has shared its COVID-19 guidelines with all levels of government in Toronto, where cinemas and performing arts venues are also closed under current pandemic protocols, but B次元官网网址渢heyB次元官网网址檙e not willing to have a conversation.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e have no idea whether anyone has even looked at them,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 understandable that if the risk is in gatherings, all gatherings should not be allowed. But why do you allow some gatherings and not others?B次元官网网址�
By contrast, B次元官网网址済overnments are perfectly willing to look at restaurants, theyB次元官网网址檙e willing to look at faith-based gatherings,B次元官网网址� he said.
Film and TV productions have also been allowed to shoot in the province with COVID-19 protocols.
B次元官网网址淲hat is the difference?B次元官网网址� Karastamatis said. B次元官网网址淭hese actors are performing together, technicians are all around them, they are filming them. And if the same thing were to be done with a theatre company, it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be allowed.B次元官网网址�
Karastamatis said it seems governments consider the arts B次元官网网址渁 frill that you allow a certain segment of the society to have just to keep them quiet, but that they really donB次元官网网址檛 matter, they donB次元官网网址檛 contribute to the economy, they donB次元官网网址檛 contribute to civil life.B次元官网网址�
Yet the arts create a lot of employment and economic spinoff, especially locally and in urban settings, he noted.
B次元官网网址淭he government will accept that a personB次元官网网址檚 spiritual health is important, yet they donB次元官网网址檛 consider what the arts do as something important or even spiritual, which I think it is,B次元官网网址� Karastamatis said.
The collective experience of in-person arts events are also crucial for aiding mental health at a time when people are stuck indoors staring at screens, said Lea.
B次元官网网址淚 would argue that art is essential for our spirits,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎ll you have to do is imagine this last year with no art. And that just tells you how hard it would have been to get through it.B次元官网网址�
