Hundreds of artists appeal to Draghi: "reopen cinemas, theaters and music in spring"

An appeal signed by hundreds of artists to ask acting Prime Minister Mario Draghi to reopen cinemas, theaters, concert halls and live entertainment venues in the spring. The initiative follows today’s meeting between Draghi and a delegation fromAgis (the Italian General Association for the Performing Arts) as part of the consultations: it is an appeal launched by the Meeting degli Indipendenti (MEI), a group that brings together various entertainment operators and which, in expressing thanks for the actions taken so far by the government and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, stresses the continuation of the very serious crisis for the live entertainment sector.

The Italian supply chain, which includes artists, workers in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, exhibitors, venue managers, and cultural associations, has been practically at a standstill for a year: the summer was not enough to make up for a year of hardship, and at least half of the sector is at risk of closure already by the end of winter, according to MEI. And already many live spaces have had to close their doors permanently, hit by the crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Artists and operators in the live entertainment sector are clamoring for more support from Prime Minister Draghi today at his meeting with AGIS,” the appeal reads, “to recover lost turnover and and a date for the restart and reopening of cinemas, theaters and halls for concerts, festivals, contests and kermesses, fairs, meetings and conventions, with measures that concretely and in the immediate term allow the realization of more live performances, shows and educational-musical projects by implementing health and hygiene safety regulations.”

Operators are also calling for the implementation of the Refreshment Decree 5 with all Ateco codes, the guarantee of compensation and contributions to businesses and workers without anyone being excluded, the issuance of new notices, and the implementation of an immediate plan for reopening in the spring, with new rules on physical spacing that allow all venues to schedule safe reopenings. The risk, otherwise, is that of losing hundreds of stages throughout Italy, “and consequently,” the appeal notes, “of the entire Made in Italy chain of music, theater and live entertainment.”

Early signatories include Riccardo Sinigallia, Ivano Marescotti, Giacobazzi, Alberto Bertoli, Antonella Ponziani, Gianni Maroccolo, Lorenzo Baglioni, Francesco Baccini, Ghigo Renzulli, Fio Zanotti, Cristiano Militello, Cisco, Peppe Voltarelli, Carlo Marrale, Moreno Il Biondo, Dunia Molina, Piotta, Edoardo De Angelis, Maurizio Capone, Valentina Balistreri, Enrico Capuano, Lino Vairetti, Nuove Tribu Zulu, Tony Cercola, Franz Campi, Nevruz, Donatello, Ronnie Jones, Gianni of the Daniel Santacruz Ensemble, Peppe Lanzetta, Livio of Camaleonti, Alberto Fortis, but there are hundreds of artists who have joined (more than a thousand). Several industry acronyms have also joined; the full list, as well as the text of the appeal, can be found on the MEI website.

In the photo: the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, with the seats marked to respect the physical spacing.

Hundreds of artists appeal to Draghi: "reopen cinemas, theaters and music in spring"

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