The 2nd wave Of Pandemic has Culturally Paralyzed in Europe
The 2nd wave Of Pandemic has Culturally Paralyzed in Europe Spanish newspaper Nacional on November 2, cinemas and theaters were closed for a month, exhibition halls were empty, concerts and outdoor activities were cancelled: Europe is shrouded in a ghost of “cultural paralysis”. As the second wave of the Pandemic continues to spread, the cultural curtain across Europe is slowly falling. From Milan to Manchester, from Hamburg to Paris, cultural creators and cultural workers are protesting and seeking help to get rid of the dying predicament of the industry.
Pandemic in Germany
Pandemic in Germany Leisure activities in Germany came to an abrupt end on the 2nd. The sharp increase in confirmed cases of Coronavirus has forced restaurants, bars, and stadiums to close, and various cultural activities have been suspended. The German government announced last week that museums and cinemas will be closed, concerts will be cancelled, and various cultural and entertainment venues must display a “suspended business” sign for at least one month. Shops and schools will remain open.
Although cultural event organizers and movie theaters argued that it is feasible to organize some events as long as they comply with health and Pandemic prevention measures, German Chancellor Merkel emphasized that so far, it is not clear where 75% of the infected people were infected. Therefore, reducing crowd gathering and contact is the only way to stop digital growth.
Pandemic in France
Pandemic in France The “Goncourt Prize” is the most prestigious literary prize in France. The last postponement of its award ceremony dates back to 1914, the year World War I broke out. Last week, the award jury announced its decision to “advance and retreat” with the book industry. After the government announced a one-month lockdown, the award ceremony originally scheduled for November 10 was postponed. France, including bookstores, cinemas, theaters, museums, and other cultural and leisure venues, has once again been hit hard by the anti-Pandemic restrictions as this spring.
Pierre Azulina, a member of the Goncourt Academy and a writer, said: “Obviously, with the closure of the bookstore, we can no longer award the Goncourt Award as planned. Critics, readers, writers, booksellers… We are a whole and we must stand in the same boat.”
Pandemic in Italy
Pandemic in Italy In Italy, indoor and outdoor cinemas, theaters and concert halls have all been closed this Monday. These restrictions have triggered protests by cultural circles in many cities. One of the most famous speakers is undoubtedly the conductor Ricardo Muti, who sent a letter to Italian Prime Minister Conte to defend the safety of the cultural space: “The decision to close the concert hall and the theater will have serious consequences. The impoverishment of the mind and spirit is dangerous. , It will also damage your health.”
Muti quickly got a reply from Conte. The Prime Minister stated that the decision to suspend cultural activities was “difficult but necessary.” Conte emphasized: “We are forced to make such sacrifices again, but we do not intend to give up beauty, culture, music, art, film, and theater in any way.” At present, the Italian government has approved the transfer to cultural industries affected by the restrictions. And the tourism industry invested 1 billion euros in aid.
Pandemic in UK
Pandemic in UK Most theatres, cinemas and museums in the UK reopened in early September. But when the industry did not have enough time to recover from the collapse caused by the first blockade, the Johnson administration once again made the decision to temporarily close down “recreation and entertainment venues.”
The British government has previously allocated more than 1.5 billion euros for the Cultural Recovery Fund, and at least 35 of the most important art institutions have begun to receive such assistance. The biggest problem for the industry lies more in the uncertainty of the future than the current predicament.
