Corona crisis hits hard on festivals: "A violent anti-climax"

So far, there are a number of summer events that have either been canceled or moved to Västernorrland due to the corona virus. Of the county's major festivals are Urkult in Näsåker and Nipyran in Sollefteå, two of which have been canceled.

Instead of Nipyran, however, an "alternative yura" is planned, with local artists and free entry.

- Obviously it's boring. And that's a bit why we don't run a Nipyra because more money is in circulation there, then it's more you can lose. Instead, we hope that the alternative yarn will get rid of, says Anna Sjöbergh, who sits on the board of QL in Sollefteå, the association that has overall responsibility for the planning and implementation of Nipyran.

The high coastal pleasure has five planned festivals this summer: Kramfors city festival, Arenafesten, late summer in Sundsvall, Ljungarocken in Ljungaverk and Härnösand's city party.

The organizers are doubtful that all events will be possible as planned. Kramfors city party is already in June, but the organizers are mainly looking to postpone the events instead of canceling them altogether. They plan to make decisions regarding all festivals within a few weeks.

Sundsvall's square festival is planned to be implemented as planned, depending on developments. But even there the organizers are mainly looking to postpone the festival.

This year's Skuleberget nature scene was awarded the "Concert Place of the Year 2020" award and had hoped to be able to celebrate it this summer with both new and old visitors.

- There will be a violent anti-climax in this situation. It has gone from something you were looking forward to, to a kind of limbo, says CEO Fredrik Wedin.

According to Fredrik Wedin, it is also important to have an understanding of what is happening right now. Although the recommendations of the Public Health Authority could be changed so that certain events can be carried out, it is not "just" to be able to make everything work, Wedin says.

- The problem is that everything must be completed as well. Artists and everything around them must be able to start scratching in time, he says.

Generally speaking, many organizers wait as long as they can with moving on or canceling the planned events.

Even in Örnsköldsvik, both events have been set up and moved forward.

- My thoughts go a long way to the organizers who have worked hard and intensively with their events which unfortunately had to set. We are in a very different situation and have to take day by day and listen to the authorities' recommendations, ”says Marlene Jonasson Bolstad, business developer in Örnsköldsvik Municipality.

In the clip you see what the festival situation for the summer looks like right now.