Disappointment, understanding and dissatisfaction: the responses among Brussels cultural houses to the announced closure vary greatly. Cinema Palace and opera hall De Munt react displeased. Ancienne Belgique, Beursschouwburg and KVS understand.
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In response to The standard shows Melat Gebeyaw Nigussie, director of the Beursschouwburg, not surprised at the decision. ‘We had several scenarios ready, this was one of them.’ The rising figures in Brussels are making the Beursschouwburg mild. ‘Of course we are sad, but we also show solidarity with everyone who is fighting the virus. She hopes that the ministerial order will clarify the possibility of holding rehearsals and residencies.
For the Brussels cinemas, the stricter measures in Brussels are hit particularly hard. Normally at this time of the year, when the weather turns colder and the days darker, they evolve into a time when good business is being done. ‘We rushed to implement the new protocols that were communicated to the Consultation Committee on Friday,’ explains Eric Franssen from Cinema Palace out in response to news agency Belgian. Now the cinemas, along with other cultural activities in the city, have to close until November 19. His reaction lies between wonder and misunderstanding, he says.
The general manager also calls the new federal measures ‘very restrictive’, but they still allowed to maintain 30 percent of the capacity. “We could live with that number and guarantee the safety of the viewers,” said Franssen.
In the News op A responded Tom Bonte, the director of the concert hall Former Belgium, understanding, but defeated. ‘I have received similar reactions from my colleagues in the culture sector. There is a lot of understanding for a closure given the rising figures. ‘ But like Franssen, he regrets the way the decision went. ‘Shifting was done in two speeds. On Thursday we were told something different than today. ‘
According to him, the decision hit hard with the employees of the Brussels music temple. ‘The fact that there are now few prospects left will cause morale to sink to the ground.’
Michael De Cock, director of the theater hall KVS, called the decision “dramatic, but not as dramatic as what is happening in our hospitals.” He promises to ‘look for solutions together’, writes Twitter.
Much less understanding can be heard in opera hall The coin. Director Peter de Caluwe accuses the government of bad policy in a response Bruzz and calls the decision “beyond cynicism.” “This is no longer panic football, this is an overreaction of people who no longer know what they are doing,” he says frankly. According to him, the government has ignored the problem for months and now has to pay for it, while complying with all protocols.
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