The Uitmarkt will take place in Amsterdam this weekend, where the cultural season will be kicked off. After skipping the Museumplein for a year, the event is back at its familiar spot. Although in an adapted form, without indoor and outdoor stages, a book market and information stands, but with an open-air theater where previews of the new season are given.
Yet there is no reason to celebrate. The cultural sector expects to receive less audience again next season than before the corona crisis. This is the conclusion after research by the cultural and creative sector taskforce, the partnership of more than a hundred industry, professional and interest organizations in the cultural sector, established to tackle the corona crisis.
“We have asked the cultural sector to estimate the extent to which the public returns,” says Jeroen Bartelse, director of TivoliVredenburg and member of the task force. “It shows that the expectation for the autumn is about 40 percent for stages, 50 percent for museums and visual arts and 65 percent for cinemas. Festivals have a practically lost season and night culture is not allowed yet.”
The estimate improves as the year progresses and into the first half of 2022, but “the corona pandemic has taught us to be very careful,” concludes Bartelse.
Supply and demand
According to him, a large part of the public yearns for performances and concerts again, but it remains to be seen whether they will be able to return immediately. New capacity restrictions, lockdowns, testing and vaccination thresholds and travel restrictions for foreign visitors may be lurking.
Ted Brandsen, director of Dutch National Ballet, which can be seen on Saturday during the Uitmarkt, also thinks that people are reluctant. “There are many people who do not yet dare to go in large groups. On the other hand, we also receive many messages from our visitors who can no longer wait.”
In addition, the range of culture has changed. Although the agendas are full, there are also uncertainties. For example, the international music offering is affected by travel restrictions. “As long as it is not possible to travel intercontinentally, you will have to take into account that international offers will disappear,” explains Bartelse. “In addition, there is limited financial space to make a new film, theater dance or musical productions.”
–
