Berlin (AFP)
Berlin's clubs and concert halls, closed for four months due to the coronavirus pandemic, each received an average of 81,000 euros in aid from the city, according to figures published Sunday by the daily Tagesspiegel.
Pillars of the nightlife, these mainly techno clubs which have built the reputation of Berlin's "party city", have for the most part found themselves in a difficult financial situation since their closure on March 14 due to the spread of the virus.
The City-State of Berlin has however decided to grant emergency aid to 46 clubs, festivals and concert halls, according to figures communicated by an elected Greens in the local parliament, Georg Kössler, quoted by the Tagesspiegel.
Among them are clubs known far beyond the German capital, such as the Tresor, the Kater Club and the gay club Schwuz.
"We must ensure that these clubs do not sink because they are an important part of Berlin and are among the sectors that are most affected by the coronavirus crisis," said the elected ecologist, quoted by the Berlin daily.
"I want people to be able to dance and party when the days of the coronavirus are over, so our clubs must survive," he added.
Despite a wide relaxation of the restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic throughout Germany, no date has yet been envisaged for the reopening of clubs and discotheques.
Germany has decided to ban large rallies until the end of October.
Berlin cultural affairs chief Klaus Lederer opened the door last month to new aid for the capital's many cultural places, citing a new two-part envelope of 60 million euros after having already released 30 million euros of emergency aid in May.
© 2020 AFP