In the UK, music festival organizers have been urging the government for months to give them a specific insurance plan in the event of their edition being canceled due to Covid-19.
Without much progress at the moment, nearly a quarter of them have given up scheduling their meetings in 2021, as reported by the
Guardian
.
Among which, the Glastonbury or the Boomtown Fair.
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According to a study by the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), this is precisely 26% of large-scale UK events - with a capacity of over 5,000 people.
These decisions, taken at the instigation of the organizers, stem from the government's inaction to guarantee the necessary financial aid in the event of cancellation due to a new epidemic outbreak.
According to the report, 72% of the maintained festivals said they would take the same direction if this policy was not reassessed.
Read also: In the UK, festival organizers call for help
On the brink for almost a year, many are worried about their future, as well as that of the British musical landscape.
"
For months now, we have been warning the government that the UK's 2021 festival season will be totally eroded if it fails to act on Covid-19 cancellation insurance
," said Paul Reed, director general of the AIF.
Because without a safety net, how to invest serenely in the programming of such events?
"
If assurances guaranteed by the government are not possible, festival organizers at least deserve to be provided with alternatives, in order to avoid the general collapse of the season,
" he added.
Pilot events
Faced with these calls for help, a spokesperson for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport assured that initiatives were currently being taken within the government in order to consider a "
gradual reopening and sure
”of festivals.
He also recalled that more than 34 million pounds have already been invested for the reopening of places of culture, including the Glastonbury festival.
“
We are aware of the broader concerns about obtaining compensation for events, and are exploring what additional support we can provide,
” he explained.
Read also: Covid-19: the United Kingdom releases 470 million euros for culture
Among the initiatives of the United Kingdom, several pilot events have been planned since the start of the crisis, aimed at studying the risks of transmission of Covid-19 in crowds. On Sunday, nearly 5,000 people gathered at a Liverpool nightclub for a test concert. Without mask or social distancing. The first since the end of confinement in the country, last April.
