PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Performing Arts: Coronavirus (1 July 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the timescales for permitting the return of live arts performances (a) with and (b) without social distancing restrictions as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Asked by:
Ms Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour)

The Secretary of State and DCMS are committed to supporting the cultural sector to reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, and ensure appropriate support and guidance is provided.

To that end, DCMS has established the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and the Entertainment and Events working group which will be focusing on ensuring that COVID-19 secure guidelines are developed in line with the phasing ambitions and public health directions, building on the existing guidance and providing intelligence and sector-specific expert input.

The Secretary of State recently announced a five stage roadmap that the Government will work through to get the performing arts sectors back up and running. The first two stages of the plan - rehearsals and training adhering to social distancing, and performances for broadcast only - are already underway in some places, and further decisions on the remainder of the stages will be made in line with expert medical advice and the latest public health guidance.

Answered by:
Dame Caroline Dinenage (Conservative)
9 July 2020