European live music sector welcomes EU's guidelines on the reopening of cultural venues

By Emmanuel Legrand

In a joint letter to European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas (Promoting our European Way of Life) and Commissioner Mariya Gabriel (Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth), European associations from the creative and live events sector have welcomed the EU guidelines on the reopening of cultural venues and ensuring a free movement of artists and cultural professionals in Europe.

"We invite the Member States to take these findings into careful consideration when setting their required national reopening strategies and trust that the Commission can play a key role in coordinating and ensuring the implementation of such highly needed national plans at EU level," reads the letter.

Signatories also called on the European institutions and EU Member States "to implement EU digital COVID certificates and take appropriate measures to facilitate the free movement of artists and cultural professionals, for whom mobility is essential to carry out their work."

Building on experience

  The letter stressed that it was "essential to continue building on the experience and positive developments that have taken place so far to ensure that cultural establishments remain open and to avoid any risk of returning to complete lockdown in the event of a new wave. This can be done safely thanks to the use of safety health protocols and measures put in place by venues and live events."

  Signatories also invited Member States "to ensure the continuation of the cultural activities under the set measures, and the Commission to closely monitor and coordinate the implementation of such protocols." 

A sustainable reopening

  They also welcomed the Commission "for taking a clear and strong position in persuading the Member States to use the national recovery and resilience funds for the sustainable reopening and recovery of the CCIs in general, and the live sector in particular. It is also encouraging that several EU funding programmes can be used for the same purpose."

  The letter was signed by the Association for Electronic Music (AFEM), Arena Resilience Alliance (ARA), European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers (GESAC ), European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA), European Network for Live Music Associations (LIVE DMA), live music platform for new European talent Liveurope, Live Performance Europe (PEARLE) and YOUROPE, the European Festival Association.