The Agency for Cultural Affairs has announced that it will carry out mass vaccinations of more than 18,000 people at national theaters and art galleries in an attempt to support the resumption of activities by vaccination of the leaders of cultural arts such as theater and music.
Regarding the leaders of culture and art, 40% of the respondents answered that their income was almost zero in a survey conducted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs last fall, highlighting the serious reality of the spread of infection.
Announcement of mass inoculation to the bearers of culture and art
Many of the leaders of culture and art have been forced to cancel their performances due to the spread of infection, and a survey conducted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs last fall revealed that 40% of the respondents said that their income was almost zero. became.
Vaccination is expected to resume activities, but the occupational vaccination that started this month requires that about 1000 people be vaccinated at one venue, and vaccination for people involved in culture and art, many of whom are freelancers and small groups, is required. It is an issue.
Under these circumstances, the Agency for Cultural Affairs will hold the National Theater of Japan and the National Art Center, Tokyo from the 5th of next month for those who want to receive urgent vaccinations such as members of theater companies who need to practice in groups and staff of national cultural facilities. We announced on the 29th that we will start mass inoculation in sequence.
Although the acceptance of applications for occupational vaccination has been suspended, the vaccination at the National Theater has already secured vaccines, so of the 156 groups that had hopes, about 4,200 people, 78 groups as a result of the lottery About 2000 people will be vaccinated.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs plans to inoculate more than 18,000 people and says, "I would like to support as many artists as possible to resume their activities with peace of mind."
40% have almost zero income
The spread of the new coronavirus and repeated declarations of emergency have seriously affected the actors of cultural arts such as theater and music.
In an online survey conducted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs from September to October last year, 17,196 responses were received from people involved in cultural arts.
Among them, 80% of the respondents answered that they had "no longer had the opportunity to work that had already been decided" due to cancellation or postponement, and "income from cultural and artistic activities became almost 0% in the six months from March to August last year." 40% of the respondents answered.
As for the anxiety, "anxiety about the lack of a bright outlook for the entire industry" was 24%, and "anxiety about whether cultural and artistic activities could be continued in the future" was 19%. The harsh facts have come to light during the protracted period.
Great impact on concerts and other events that attract customers
The impact on events that attract customers is particularly large, and according to a survey released last month by Pia Research Institute, sales lost due to performance cancellations and restrictions on visitors during the year until February were 3800 for "music" such as concerts. It amounted to 100 million yen, and 160 billion yen for "stages" such as plays and musicals.
This means that 90% of the market size in 2019 before the spread of infection was lost for "music" and 76% for "stage".
In response to this situation, the Agency for Cultural Affairs has been considering measures as an urgent need to support the people involved in cultural arts.
Expectations from theater people
The theater officials expressed their expectations for vaccination.
About 40 actors belong to the Tokyo-based musical company "Musical Theater", which will be vaccinated at the National Theater next month.
In addition to receiving many Japanese theater awards for his original works, there are also touring performances at elementary and junior high schools nationwide, and charity performances that invite people with disabilities, single-parent families, and people affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake for free. I have continued.
However, the situation has changed completely since the spread of the infection.
Almost all of the scheduled performances were canceled or postponed last year, and training for companies that have supported the management base has disappeared.
I have a contract with the actors I belong to for each performance as a sole proprietor, but I keep paying even if there are no performances so as not to fall into financial distress, and last year sales fell to about a quarter. It's called.
Performance resumption decision However, occupational inoculation is not applicable
Even under such circumstances, voices such as "I want you to hold up and continue the performance after Corona" and "I want to regain energy by watching live" have been sent by e-mail and SNS, and the theater company will increase the number of spectators at the studio in Machida City from the end of next month. We decided to focus on 100 people and perform for the first time in 7 months.
However, even if infection control measures such as disinfection, ventilation, and temperature measurement are thoroughly implemented, group training must be done closely, and it is difficult to eliminate the risk of infection while the members are discussing and creating works. I will.
On the other hand, since the actors are sole proprietors, they are not subject to occupational vaccination, and since vaccination with kintin was an issue, it was decided by lottery to inoculate from next month when requested by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. is.
"I'm really grateful for the vaccine."
Nana Kono, an actor of the Musical Theater, said, "I'm really grateful for the vaccination when I think about face-to-face plays and making loud voices. When the infection has subsided, I went to the countryside and told the children. I would like to have a performance. "
"If vaccination leads to the peace of mind of visitors"
In addition, actor and producer Masanori Fujita said, "Since it is difficult to take a distance in terms of performance, it was difficult to take thorough measures against infectious diseases. I think that entertainment can only be established if there is a place of safety and security, so I will give a vaccine. We hope that this will lead to the peace of mind of the visitors. Corona Vaccine was an opportunity to think about the significance of our existence. We would like to find another way to help society. "
Prepare at the National Theater
At the small theater of the National Theater in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, which will be the venue for vaccination conducted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, 3,200 people involved in culture and art are scheduled to be vaccinated from the 5th of next month.
After a closed period, the small theater with 590 seats has taken measures against infection such as limiting the number of spectators since the middle of last month, and has resumed performances such as Japanese dance and bunraku.
According to the Japan Arts Council, which operates the National Theater, the inoculation is scheduled to take place from the 5th to the 9th of next month when there are no performances, and preparations for setting up the venue will be made in the future.
In the setup plan, a reception is set up in the lobby at the entrance of the small theater, and after completing the procedure, wait until the inoculation turn in the audience seats of the theater, then move to the inoculation space provided on the stage and receive an interview from a medical staff and get a vaccine Is to be inoculated.
Yuji Shirota, General Manager of the General Affairs Planning Department of the Japan Arts Council, said, "Although it is a place where traditional performing arts are usually performed, we are preparing in consultation with the Agency for Cultural Affairs as a venue for inoculation of occupational areas. I hope that by promoting vaccination to the bearers, we will be able to work with greater peace of mind. "