Whilst we welcome @OliverDowden's enthusiasm and understanding we’re the Covid-safest part of the sector and should be prioritised if roadmap shifts, here are @OutToPerforms’s 6 things government can do now to unlock more outdoor performances by #DeregulatingTheArts. /2
Many congratulations to @JuliaLopezMP newly appointed as @DCMS Minister of State. We champion lateral thinking in the sector, and our CEO @stuartbarrmusic looks forward to working with you to find new ways to champion our culture and digital sectors.
According to @ONS, the arts, entertainment & recreation sector added 70,000 jobs in the latest quarter but is still 103,000 below the pre-pandemic level https://t.co/kI8lnanXMm
Delighted #Vaxpassports dropped in England (sorry, Scotland). We'd campaigned against their introduction in #performingarts because they signal "this is an unsafe place" regardless of real risk – psychology which would have taken years to undo.
We are pleased individual venues will be able to choose their own policies on #facemasks. As the #EventsResearchProgramme data suggested, audiences are 1/100 as likely to inhale other's aerosols outdoors as indoors, so mandatory masks outdoors make would bring no benefit.
We welcome @sajidjavid's confirmation #Step4 will happen on July 19th with NO mandatory distancing, distancing, limits or Covid passports, allowing outdoor venues to return to become profitable again. So many #performingarts jobs and public uplift depends upon full capacity.
However, we're pleased to see the 1st hard evidence of relative risk of outdoor vs indoor events. We believe this bolsters our mission that Step 4 public policy must be aligned with relative risk, and our argument for open air organised seated events having no restrictions.
We've uncovered a previously unreported problem: @ONS data of 15% more likely to attend events with mandatory testing is based upon population survey, NOT core audiences, therefore shouldn't be used as economic argument for its introduction. @katyraines@IndigoLtd@BakerRichards
#APNews: The sector has welcomed news that there were "no substantial outbreaks" following test events but findings from the scheme raise serious safety and viability concerns going forward https://t.co/h0q1NyXkxp
@IndigoLtd@BakerRichards
However, we greatly welcome the research's scope and ambition, and support the government's drive to make policy making data-led. Read our full response on #EventsResearchProgramme to @OliverDowden & our reservations. #Covid https://t.co/ytYHgQSZe7 [thread ends]
We are delighted @govuk@oliverdowden@dcms has released #EventsResearchProgramme 1st report & congratulate all involved inc @DavidRossPR & Nick Hytner 👏. We welcome its findings particularly on outdoor vs indoors – but have 3 important reservations (thread).⬇️⬇️⬇️
Finally, there's no mention that they'll look at the long-tail effect of introducing apparently short-term mitigations such as certification/testing. It may ingrain “Events = unsafe” attitude into audiences, which could take years to undo. /7