Cultural organizations are urging the government to lift COVID restrictions on events
STAFebruary 15, 2022 – Cultural institutions and associations addressed a letter to the decision-makers to completely reopen cultural venues in Slovenia by February 21 at the latest and remove all restrictions on the coronavirus governing the organization and attendance of cultural events.
The appeal, sent to the president, government, parliament and political parties, was signed by 70 organizations, including most theaters and museums, several festivals and art centers, and Kino Šiška and the GIZ KOS concert organizers’ association. .
The Slovenian cultural and event sector has quickly adapted to providing safe events, but cannot adapt to excessive measures that hinder or completely prevent a large segment of events that can only be organized without seats and distance and with fully filled venues if events need to be be economically viable “.
The letter says that Slovenia is one of the few countries where not only masks and Covid passes are required, but also the distancing of visitors who have to sit in fixed seats. He writes that in comparison to Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, France, Hungary, Italy, Austria and Croatia, only Slovenia has such strict restrictions.
The signatories argue that the restrictions no longer contribute to improving the epidemiological situation, and call on the government to phase them out, first restrictions on distance and fixed seats, and in the next phase, which is expected soon, Covid pass, while masks should become recommended.
The letter says that after two years of closure and restriction and intermediate events in impossible conditions, “it is time for the doors of cultural venues to open wide and culture to breathe with full lungs”.