Disappointment in cultural Sweden after an unchanged audience limit

The government's announcement came at a press conference on Thursday.

-We know that culture is having a hard time, and are well aware of the importance of sectors such as culture and sports for our society.

But we have always been clear that exceptions can only be implemented if the situation allows it, says Lena Hallengren.

"All we can"

The announcement that the current public restrictions are not being eased at the moment was further motivated by Minister of Culture and Sports Amanda Lind (MP).

-I understand that this is a message that disappoints many.

I, like you, would have preferred that we did not have to make this decision today.

But Sweden and the world are in the worst health crisis since World War II.

We have to do everything we can, she says.

-We are still planning to make these changes.

But for the government to be able to make such a decision, it is necessary that the infection situation still allows such an exception.

Relief of the audience restrictions has been hotly anticipated by an industry where revenues have been very limited since the start of the pandemic.

The government announced last week that today's decision would be made with regard to the current infection situation.

Neither Hallengren nor Lind want to state an exact time for when a new announcement about possible easing of the audience restrictions can come.

Sharper dialogue

Despite the fact that the development of infection is going in the wrong direction, the news comes as a death blow to an industry that is bleeding.

-Last last night I told the audience at a concert that we are a bit like a guard and waiting for a message to play for more people.

And we have done our homework, so it is disappointing, it is not possible to say anything else, says Stefan Forsberg.

-Of course I can not have an opinion on the Public Health Agency's recommendations, we understand that the protection situation comes first but we must have a sharper dialogue with the government about the lead times.

It is an absolute prerequisite for the future.

The Theater Association's chairman Simon Norrthon goes a step further and says that the message means that “the air goes out” of many private traders in the cultural sector:

-I fully understand the government's concerns about the increasing spread of infection.

But I would have liked, after almost seven months of the pandemic, to be prepared to present a more well-thought-out and equal regulatory framework, instead of unilaterally using the Meeting Ordinance, which strikes at some but not all.

Many have already gone bankrupt, many are leaving the industry.

"Do not understand the logic"

Birgitta Svendén, Royal Opera's CEO and opera director, says that she does not understand the logic of the government's decision.

Svendén questions why the performing arts industry seems to pose the greatest risk of infection in society compared with, for example, restaurants, shopping centers and public transport.

-The theaters are built for structures with organized audience flows, we have deep knowledge and experience on that particular issue and have been well prepared for a long time, she says.

-Now the decision was made about a restaurant with entertainment, why not try to gradually increase the audience in our theaters?