Measures in the area of culture following the activation of the alert stage of the Specific Municipal Health-Risk Prevention Plan in Barcelona
In view of the situation caused by the COVID-19 virus, the municipal government has announced a series of measures, which have been taken in coordination with the Spanish and Catalan governments and which will initially be in force for the next 15 days, from Thursday, 12 March to Friday, 27 March.
19 March update:
You will find up-to-the-minute information on the Covid-19 virus crisis, as well as measures and effects in the various areas, from this link.
13 March update:
Given the instructions contained in the decree of measures made public today by the Government of Catalonia (RESOLUTION SLT/720/2020, of 13 March), municipal museums, archives and arts centres and the city’s network of libraries and community centres will remain closed as from today to halt the spread of COVID-19.
These extraordinary measures affect the following museums, exhibition halls and municipal archives:
-Arxiu Històric de la Ciutat de Barcelona
-Arxiu Fotogràfic de Barcelona
-Museu Disseny de Barcelona
-La Capella
-La Virreina Centre de la Imatge
-Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes
-MUHBA. Museu d’Història de Barcelona
-Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona
-Museu de la Música
-Museu Frederic Marès
-Museu Picasso
-Fabra i Coats. Centre d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona
-Castell de Montjuïc
-El Born CCM
-Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món-Montcada Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món-Parc Montjuïc
-Fundació Mies Van der Rohe
-Jardí Botànic. Museu de Ciències Naturals
-MACBA
These establishments will remain closed for a minimum of 15 days, after which the situation will be re-evaluated in light of the current epidemiological situation.
The Tiquet Rambles office will also be closed from Friday 13 to Friday 27 March (inclusive).
Fully updated service information can be found on the Barcelona City Council website.
12 March update:
On Saturday, 14 March, and for an initial 15 days, the following municipal facilities will be closed to the public in the city:
-Community centres
-Libraries
-Neighbourhood centres
-Music schools
-The Municipal Conservatory
-Mother-and-child spaces
-Children's centres
-Toy libraries
-Youth centres
-Municipal sports centres
-Fab Labs
You can find full up-to-date information from this link.
As for the coming Dansa Metropolitana event, its planned official opening in Barcelona for this Saturday, 14 March at La Barceloneta has been cancelled, as have all the planned indoor shows on its programme. Full details can be found from this link.
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11 March update:
Measures are to be implemented in the cultural sphere under the following action criteria, which will apply to the entire network of municipal cultural facilities and to consortiums linked to the City Council, where the predominant institution is, as well as to activities carried out in public streets and squares.
ACTIVITIES
As a general rule, all activities with over 1,000 people involved, whether in enclosed spaces or on public streets and squares, are hereby cancelled. Events with fewer than 1,000 people in enclosed spaces (such as theatres, cinemas and auditoriums) may continue, provided that no more than one third of the audience capacity is taken up, as stipulated in the instructions given out by the Public Health Agency
As for the events taking place in public spaces during the fifteen days of the “Quinzena de la Dansa Metropolitana”, originally scheduled to start on Saturday, 14 March, the authorities involved will analyse possible disruptions on Thursday within the framework of the meeting they will be holding at the Centre Cívic Barceloneta. The decision that is taken will be consensual and afterwards communicated to the media, at a press conference arranged for 1 pm.
MUSEUMS AND EXHIBITION HALLS
The city's museum facilities and exhibition halls will continue their usual activities, provided they comply with the Public Health Agency’s instructions to fill no more than one third of their audience capacity. Educational activities aimed at young children will continue, so long as class groups are kept separate. As for planned workshops, only those where items need to be handled will be cancelled.
LOCAL CULTURAL FACILITIES
Libraries, Community Centres and other local cultural facilities will stay open with their usual workshops and courses, except for those aimed at the elderly, which will be cancelled. The rule of one third of maximum capacity will apply to shared indoor areas with free-access (multi-media classrooms, exhibition halls, talks in auditoriums, shows etc.)
These instructions are based on the ones issued by the Catalan and Spanish governments. They are therefore subject to possible amendments that the respective authorities may make over the coming days.
You can find further information on disruptions caused by the COVID-19 virus using the following link.