Belgium Withdraws Closure of Cultural Venues After Artists Protest

After widespread outrage from the artists’ community and workers from the cultural sector, the Belgium’s Council of State decided on December 28 to suspend the closure of the cultural sector, announced last week to check the surge of COVID-19 infections caused by the Omicron variant.

On Sunday, December 26, as reported by Peoples’ Dispatch thousands of people from various sectors of the arts and entertainment industry gathered at the Mont des Arts in Brussels, demanding the government to reverse its decision targeting the cultural sector while Christmas markets and other businesses are allowed to continue.

Waving posters reading "The show must go on" or “No culture, no future,” the crowd demonstrated peacefully despite the pouring rain, accusing the government of unfairly targeting the culture industry with the new virus restrictions.

After almost two years of forced closures and limited openings, the culture sector had hoped its efforts, including special air quality meters in halls, separated seats, and limited visitor capacities, would allow it to escape the brunt of the virus restrictions.

The cultural workers’ platform Green Light For Culture & Events said in a statement that, “After two years of hard work, financial investment, good will and flexibility, our sectors were closed again on December 22. A decision that feels like a punishment, because it wasn’t advised by the GEMS: Belgium’s coronavirus expert group. The public and staff working in the events and culture sectors were also not in agreement with this measure. The rally not only called for the reopening of both sectors, but also to redefine a framework that would be viable and profitable in the long run, as well as needed supporting measures. Not a yo-yo politics, but concrete solutions.”

Raoul Hedebouw, president of the Workers Party of Belgium (PTB/PVDA) shared his views about the closure of the cultural industry, saying that “the government needs to hear the enormous anger being expressed and admit that it was wrong. There is no legitimacy neither scientific nor democratic for such a measure.”

Scores of movie theatres and other venues disregarded the closure order, according to state broadcaster RTBF.

A brass band accompanied Sunday's demonstration and the Place de la Monnaie in Brussels, the symbolic spot which spawned Belgian independence in 1830, and prominent cultural figures took to the stage to air their grievances. Organisers urged participants to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Authorities estimated 5,000 people took part and it ended peacefully.

With the rise in infections caused by the Omicron variant of COVID-19 across Europe, countries including Belgium are on high alert. As of December 29, there were 343,809 active COVID-19 cases in the country. 9,965 new cases and 32 deaths were reported on December 29 alone. According to reports, as of December 28, 8,792,678 people in Belgium – around 76.32% of the total population – are fully vaccinated.