The last few months have been chaotic for all but arts and culture have been severely affected by the pandemic and lockdown, forced into total shutdown overnight and with no real way to adapt to the current situation and lack of in-person audiences.

But there’s some good news for musicians, bands, artists and eager gig-goers – new government guidance has just set out how performance venues, concert halls and the like can get back to business safely, with new rules in place to protect them post-lockdown.

What this means is that outdoor dance and music venues, as well as theatres can now resume shows with limited and socially distanced audiences. Some smaller indoor performances with socially distanced audiences are also being piloted at the moment to see how indoor venues can get back up and running, as well.

Planning rules have also been laid out to protect venues from demolition or change of use by developers, which prevents any that were left temporarily vacant over the last few months from disappearing altogether.

Guidance for the safe resumption of performances includes reducing venue capacity and limiting ticket sales, online ticket purchases only, with e-ticketing to be used to help with track and trace, social distancing marking, deep cleaning and so on. Musicians, conductors and performers are advised to observe social distancing wherever possible.

All this will be very welcome news indeed to those in the music industry, following a campaign for more financial support amid the coronavirus crisis.

UK Music recently launched the Let The Music Play campaign, requesting support packages, access to finance, full VAT exemption on ticket sales and a timeline for reopening venues without social distancing measures in place.

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