The Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, in full collaboration with Arts Council Malta, has published the COVID-19 transition guidelines for artistic productions that will be staged in established public and private indoor and outdoor theatres and performance spaces.
The guidelines delineate the protocols that need to be followed before, during and after a show, as well as those which the cast and crew will have to adapt during rehearsals, preparations and production meetings. Producers are expected to take care of the health, safety and welfare of performers and crews, and all other staff. These considerations also include contractors and delivery persons, as well as audiences.
The objective is to promote safe working practices for theatre management, producers, crews and artists, as well as to safeguard the wellbeing of patrons whilst taking into consideration the artistic and financial aspects of the cultural production in question.
Some of the most noticeable protocols include social distancing measures which will see groups of a maximum of 6 patrons, with a two metre distance between one group and another, but there is no limit to how many people can attend as long as all hygiene regulations are abided by.
When it comes to the stage, close contact is permissible on stage if necessary to the artistic rendering of the show and if hygiene guidelines are respected. Social distancing on stage should only be applied if and when it is deemed possible by the director or producer.
This means that make-up equipment should not be shared between cast members, while props and costumes should be disinfected and cleaned before and after use, without affecting the course of the show or rehearsal.
“These guidelines shall ensure that our theatres adopt the adequate mechanisms to control the risks of exposure of COVID-19,” stated Minister Herrera, outlining that the Ministry and Arts Council Malta have, over the past months, kept in constant contact with various artists and the Health Authorities in order to ensure that the guidelines that are being issued strike the right balance between health regulations and the artistic and economic survival of our theatres.
Arts Council Malta’s (ACM) Chairman Albert Marshall said that it is vital that our theatres, indoors and outdoors, public and private, open their doors to start welcoming their patrons back after the lifting of restrictions due to COVID-19.
“Performing arts, including playhouses and open performance spaces, together with performers and all personnel who form the theatre community, have gone through hard times during the pandemic months. We have revised rules and regulations to ensure that producers are offered conditions that better respect the logistic and financial aspects of theatre-making”.
ACM, in collaboration with the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, has set up the COVID-19 Transition Arts Advisory Group, to act as a point of reference to ensure a successful transition via the establishment of a strong camaraderie network and knowledge sharing unit, thus aiming to identify issues as they may arise, discover solutions and provide guidance, whilst creating a balance between optimising operations and keeping people safe.