Minister of Culture: No exceptions for cinemas

- It has cost to be closed for a long time, if we are to be able to come back, this 50 limit is a huge problem, said Peter Fornstam, chairman of the Swedish Cinema Owners' Association to Kulturnyheterna on Wednesday.

This weekend, American The King of Staten island premieres and on July 31, major titles such as Bert's Diary and American Unhinged with Russell Crowe in the lead role will follow.

Since 31 May, cinemas no longer receive support for loss of income and cinema owners fear that the economic situation will be unsustainable if the 50 limit remains. Instead, they want each visitor to be able to have an empty chair on each side of them from the first of August.

- What the government has said and the Public Health Agency's recommendation is that the 50 limit remains during the summer, says Minister of Culture Amanda Lind (MP) to Kulturnyheterna.

The Public Order Act, which regulates the ban on public gatherings of more than 50 people, applies to, for example, demonstrations, religious practices, theater and cinema performances, dance events and sports. But now the patience of cultural workers is beginning to wane.

In mid-July, 173 musicians and stage workers signed an open letter in which they questioned why the limit of 50 people applies to, for example, gigs, but not restaurants and bathhouses.

- I fully understand the frustration and that the law of order that regulates this can be perceived as vague, because it does not regulate all activities. As a complement, FHM has recommendations that apply to shops, restaurants and public transport. Here you should be clear that there should not be congestion anywhere, says Amanda Lind.

The Minister of Culture reminds that the rules are fixed because we are in the middle of a pandemic that has no end date.

- I have no such information, as soon as the government has information, we will return. I know that many cultural workers do their utmost. The restrictions should not remain longer than necessary, she says.