Under the fine rain, a forest of signs. “No to this stupid decree!”, “Unlike finance, culture enriches us”, “No culture, no future”. This Sunday, several thousand demonstrators gathered near Place Royale, in the museum district of Brussels. If the carnival masks worn by the compact crowd brighten up the atmosphere, a touch of weariness dominates. Because all are gathered to protest against the closure of theaters imposed by the authorities.
Announced on Wednesday to combat the spread of the omicron variant, the decision, coming into force on Sunday, surprised both the ranks of culture and those of government experts. Indeed, the fourth wave of the pandemic continues to ebb in Belgium, the absolute numbers of infections have been decreasing for three weeks.
Experts who have the government’s attention had not recommended at this stage a new turn of the screw for culture despite the tense situation in hospitals. Speaking of“inconsistency”, even“aberration”, some of them have even publicly denounced this decision, considered all the more surprising as cafes and restaurants can remain open throughout the country under certain conditions.
“Once again, we are deepening inequalities and access to culture”, criticizes Virginie Cordier, director of the cultural center La Vènerie, in the Brussels municipality of Watermael-Boitsfort. Perched on a platform, officials of major Brussels cultural institutions, such as the Royal Flemish Theater (KVS) and the Opera de la Monnaie, called on politicians to “reconsider” their decision. Still others spoke of the importance of keeping cinemas and theaters open. “For mental health” of a population affected by nearly two years of pandemic.
In the morning, 95 km away, several hundred people gathered in front of the Sauvenière cinema in Liège. In the crowd, made up of workers and cultural supporters, the same frustration reigned. “There is no evidence that there really are clusters“, Launched a protester to RTL.
“We don’t deny the pandemic problem, obviously, also assured the radio Stéphane Wintgens, coordinator of the cinema Les Grignoux. But we do not accept to be singled out as responsible for this pandemic. We apply strict protocols, we are reception professionals in closed places. ”
Certain theaters and numerous cinemas, notably in Brussels, Namur and Liège, have decided to defy the ban by remaining open. In Liège, according to the police, more than 850 people participated in the morning in an “illegal” cinema screening.