Two of the cultural venues included in the project will only be visited by vaccinated people and those who have had Covid-19, while the other two will also have unvaccinated people with a negative Covid-19 test. Following the pilot projects, the Ministry of Culture will, in cooperation with epidemiologists, develop rules that will allow safest possible resumption of activities of the cultural sector.
The pilot project will be unveiled Thursday with two films at the Citadele cinema, continue with an open-air concert at the Dzintari Concert Hall, two shows at the Valmiera Theater, and a comedy-concert on the outdoor terrace of “Hanzas Perons.”
Hanzas perons and Kino Citadele will only host people who have been vaccinated against or had and overcome Covid-19. Valmera Theater and Dzintari Concert hall will have a mixed audience.
“The Covid-19 test [for unvaccinated people and those who have not had Covid-19] must be carried out no more than 48 hours before the event takes place or the test can be carried out at the site of the event,” said the State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Dace Vilsone. In the pilot project the test will be free, but in the future it will be paid for by the visitor.
The director of the Valmiera Theatre, Evita Ašeradena, said that meeting with viewers after such a long time is a very emotional event: “When we launched ticket sales we almost cried. Because finally something that is very much awaited comes true. I mean, on June 12, when the hall will be filled as much as allowed, it will be very emotional, because when you've sat and waited for five, six months... this encounter will be very emotional.”
What will happen next when the pilot projects conclude, State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture said: “Next it is our job, together with epidemiologists, to make an overview of how this has happened, how safe it has been, whether our scenarios need further additions, changes or improvements. And then the Ministry of Culture will also push forward a proposal that such cultural events be allowed and approved at the level of Cabinet regulations."
