Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) has expressed its disappointment that the Authorities have not given the green light to restart standing events, which also form part of the proposed reopening road map.

MEIA did however welcome the increase of cluster capacity for seated events to 300 from the 16th of August and to 500 from the 30th of August as it said, was agreed during their last meeting with the Health Minister and the Superintendent of Public Health.

“Whereas we applaud the ongoing efforts and success of the Health Authorities to achieve a high rate of vaccination among the adult population, our sector remains the only industry that is suffering from sustained discrimination,” the Association said.

It lamented that “not only is our industry the only industry that requires vaccine certification for both staff and clients for open air seated events, but we are also the only industry that is being used as the sacrificial lamb of the pandemic.”

The Association went on to say that “we are concerned that these ongoing restrictions and limitations on our operations will make it even more difficult for audiences to return when full capacity will be permitted.”

“Standing events, like seated events, come in various formats, ranging from small corporate events of 50 people to concerts hosting thousands, all of which can operate in different roll-out stages and with protocols that are similar to those of other industries and proven to be successful on an international level,” the MEIA said.

It pointed out that “all standing events are being considered as similar events and no distinction is being made to allow low-risk standing events, such as corporate events, to commence.”

The Association argued that the “only standing events that seem to be ongoing in Malta are the illegal gatherings that remain uncontrolled, unsupervised, and unrestrained.”

In addition, it said the financial schemes promised weeks ago have not yet been announced and called on the government to give financial support to operators that still cannot operate due to the ongoing restrictions; provide a compensation scheme for events that once again need to be cancelled; provide road map till the end of year; introduce a seat compensation scheme for theatres and cinemas to address the enforced limitations on seating capacity; review guidelines to ensure a sustainable approach on seating capacity with distinctions made between face to back audiences as opposed to the face to face in restaurant with non-vaccinated patrons; provide a classification of standing events according to different risk factors; and give a guarantee facility for all type of events to encourage producers and promoters plan for the coming months.

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