Stage editors, security guards, independent technicians or kitchen staff, 200 external workers have lost their professional link with the Brussels concert hall.
“For the most part, organic farming has long been an important, if not essential, source of income. These very many employees who have always played a major role in the operation of the house are now preparing for a very dark future within their branch of activity, ” regrets Marc Vrebos, director of Ancienne Belgique in a press release.
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The legendary Belgian venue, one of the busiest in Europe, indicates that it is doing everything possible to comply with the security measures recommended by the experts. “It is therefore not without bitterness that we see that other sectors, yet faced with the same health risks, can restart freely without taking into account the safety distances while our sector is taking a sudden hit. "
An emblematic place affected
Closed since March 11, the establishment, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, will not reopen before the summer of 2021 "according to the most optimistic scenario" , underlines Marc Vrebos. Because in Belgium, since July 27, the indoor public is limited to 100 people with compulsory masks. With a large hall with a capacity of 1,000 seats, the reopening of this musical institution would not be profitable.
The Ancienne Belgique is nevertheless one of the most important rooms in the world. Founded in the 1930s, its boards have been trodden by Édith Piaf, Johnny Halliday, Claude François or Lou Reed. Today it is a hotbed of the rock scene. Usually, it performs nearly 300 concerts a year and is one of the most visited venues in Europe with more than 340,000 visitors a year.
To support the music sector severely affected by the current crisis, its director invites the public to donate to “Live2020”, a solidarity fund for live music in Belgium.
To support the institution : https://fr.live2020.be/
