Norway gov to allow 600-capacity outdoor shows
The Norweigan government will increase the capacity of outdoor events from 200 to 600 people from 12 October when the national corona restrictions are relaxed.
Prime minister Erna Solberg announced at a press conference yesterday (30 September) that it will be permitted for up to 600 people to attend an outdoor event at the same time, provided they are divided into groups of up to 200 people.
For seated events, one seat between each person is required, however, people in the same household are allowed to sit together.
The capacity for indoor events remains at 200 people maximum but the government has committed to reviewing the possibility of increasing it to 600 when the infection rate allows.
“Now, we can better target the measures so that the burden on the individual and on society is as small as possible”
“We are now in a different situation than when we closed down in March. The municipalities have upgraded their preparedness, and we have more knowledge about the corona pandemic,” says prime minister Solberg.
“This means that we can better target the measures so that the burden on the individual and on society is as small as possible. We can therefore open up for some relief nationally.”
Minister of culture and gender equality Abid Q. Raja says: “I am glad that we can go from two to one available seat between us in places with fixed seats – it is important for many. We will also, as soon as the infection situation dictates, make a new assessment of the possibility of opening indoor events with up to 600 people present.”
In areas that have been affected by local outbreaks, such as the capital city Oslo, Arendal and Øygarden, the local rules will take precedence over national ones.
The ban on serving alcohol after midnight, which has been in place since 8 August, will be lifted when the restrictions ease.
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Netherlands scraps capacity limit for seated shows
The Netherlands is relaxing its coronavirus regulations from 1 July, removing the capacity limit for seated indoor and outdoor events, provided fans have undergone health checks before entry.
The Dutch government announced the new measures yesterday (24 June), which include the retention of the one-and-a-half metre distancing rule at all events.
Reservations must also be made for events to enable contact tracing in the case of a new outbreak of the virus.
Festivals in the Netherlands will have to obtain licences from local authorities before being able to resume, which is unlikely to happen before mid-August.
The capacity limit for events that do not undertake health checks will increase to 100 for indoor venues and 250 for outdoor shows from 1 July.
“For us, the 1.5 metre society is not the new normal; the wider regulations are still hardly or not at all viable and not cost-effective for our industry”
Nightclubs and discos remain closed until 1 September – which was the original deadline for the ban on large-scale events. The rules for clubs and similar venues will be reassessed at the end of August.
The Dutch association of event makers (Vereniging van evenementenmakers – VVEM) welcomes the relaxations, but states it is “not yet satisfied”, stressing the need for a roadmap detailing when business as usual can resume.
“This is a good start, but we are not there yet,” says Rotterdam Ahoy’s Jolanda Jansen on behalf of the VVEM. “For us, the 1.5 metre society is not the new normal; the wider regulations are still hardly or not at all viable and not cost-effective for our industry. This is still going to cost companies, jobs and events.”
In particular, the organisation is lobbying for a removal of the distancing rule, which it says should be replaced with more testing and tracing.
Photo: Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken/Flickr (CC-BY SA 2.0) (cropped)
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FR boss unveils plan to restart industry at full capacity
Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic, has designed an incentive-based plan to allow the restarting of live shows at full capacity, through an increase of testing and contract tracing.
Social distancing has proved a controversial topic within the live industry, with many sharing doubts as to the viability of putting on reduced-capacity shows.
The Full Capacity Plan aims to facilitate the reopening of the leisure sector without capacity limitations, by increasing public use of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) Trace App and upping participation in testing through an incentive-based scheme.
The plan would see those who have bought tickets to shows or booked a table at a restaurant invited to attend a high-street shop to collect a home-testing kit and download the NH tracing app.
Those who test negative and agree to use the tracing app would be allowed to return to concerts, pubs, theatres and sporting events.
Although the UK government currently has the capacity to test 1.4 million people a week, fewer than 700,000 weekly tests are taking place, “because there is no incentive”, says Benn, who oversees events including Wireless, Download, Latitude and Reading and Leeds festivals.
“I am proposing the Full Capacity Plan to stimulate the debate about getting back to normal opening rather than partial opening”
“My plan is to create incentive, to test at least double the current capacity and be aiming for 12 to 15m people a month being tested minimum,” explains Benn.
“I am proposing the Full Capacity Plan to stimulate the debate about getting back to normal opening rather than partial opening because partial opening is financial disaster opening.
“[The plan] is simple and easy, inexpensive in comparison to the subsidies that the government is currently paying and very achievable with good organisation.”
A provisional timeline foresees a pilot scheme beginning later this month, in partnership with the British government, with the first events going ahead in accordance with the plan in August.
If all goes well, the industry may be able to restart at full capacity by November.
The virtual edition of Download Festival, Download TV, is taking place from 12 to 14 June, with exclusive footage from headliners Kiss, Iron Maiden and System of a Down, whereas the virtual-reality Wireless Connect will air from 3 to 5 July.
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Berlin’s Tempodrom increases cap. by 20%
The Tempodrom in Berlin, Germany, has undergone an extensive conversion and renovation, increasing capacity and adding new features as the venue comes up to its 20th year.
Due to the remodelling, the capacity of the venue has grown by 20%, from 3,500 to 4,200.
Seating and grandstands have been modernised, with upgrades to the Tempodrom’s foyer and bar area scheduled for the summer.
A climate-control system has been installed to monitor air quality and carbon dioxide content. Solar panels and a geothermal heat exchanger help to reduce the venue’s energy consumption.
In addition to the internal upgrades, the venue’s wooden roof terrace and outdoor staircases have also undergone renovation.
“Besides the unique atmosphere that the Tempodrom offers, we also want to set new standards in matters of comfort and convenience, and further optimise the Tempodrom for artists, organisers and guests”
“We have used the past few months to give the Tempodrom a makeover,” says the venue’s managing director, Karolin Seemann-Gramsch. “The extensive modernisation measures will contribute to the further strengthening of our venue as a popular location in the domestic and international event market.
“Besides the unique atmosphere that the Tempodrom offers, we also want to set new standards in matters of comfort and convenience, and further optimise the Tempodrom for artists, organisers and guests.”
Artists including Sascha Grammel, Annett Louisan, Liam Gallagher, Milky Chance and Sofi Tukker are performing at Berlin’s Tempodrom over the next few months. The venue will also be the site of the inaugural Berlin edition of Pitchfork Music Festival, taking place from 8 to 9 May 2020.
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