To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what covid-19
safety guidance his Department has issued to arts organisations planning to stream
live events from closed venues during the covid-19 outbreak.
<p>From Thursday 5th November until Wednesday 2nd December, performing arts venues
can continue to operate under Stages 1 and 2 of the performing arts roadmap. This
means that professional rehearsal and training, and performances for broadcast or
recording purposes, may continue as these are professional activities that cannot
take place at home. However performances to live audiences cannot take place, either
indoors or outdoors. During this period non-professional activity, such as amateur
choirs and orchestra, cannot take place. Further information can be found in the performing
arts guidance on gov.uk.</p><p> </p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference
to Guidance for people who work in performing arts, including arts organisations,
venue operators and participants, updated by his Department on 28 October 2020, what
plans his Department has to publish an indicative date for reaching stage 5 of re-opening
live performance venues.
<p>Following the new national restrictions being put in place from 5 November to 2
December, we are currently at Stages 1 & 2 of the Performing Arts Roadmap, meaning
that rehearsals, training and performances for broadcast and recording purposes (without
an audience) can take place. We recognise the importance of giving the sector clarity
for when Stage 5 activity can resume and acknowledge the lead in time required for
programming, casting and rehearsing productions.</p><p>We have always said that further
reopening would be dependent on the public health context at the time. DCMS has convened
a Venues Steering Group which includes representatives from leading sector organisations
as well as Public Health England and other experts to develop an action plan for maximizing
activity under Stages 3 and 4, when it is permitted, and for how we safely proceed
to Stage 5. DCMS will continue to work with the sector to establish an appropriate
pilot process for testing the return to stage 5 activity when appropriate and are
working closely with the Department for Health and Social Care on the Government Mass
Testing Programme.</p><p> </p>
