The world of culture begins its progressive reopening from Monday 23 November
Cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and concert halls can reopen next week, joining the city's museums, libraries and exhibition halls, all at 50% of visitor capacity.
The Government of Catalonia has presented a plan for the progressive reopening of activities affected by the Covid-19 measures, which includes cultural activities. The relevant health indicators will be assessed fortnightly, and if the evolution is positive, the next phase will be initiated, permitting new reopenings and increased visitor capacity. The plan includes a total of four phases and the Government has already warned that, should the indicators worsen, the plan may go back to an earlier phase.
The first phase begins on Monday 23 November, and the plan provides for the reopening of cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and concert halls, at 50% of visitor capacity and with a maximum of 500 people in the case of large venues where 50% capacity would be higher than that figure. Museums, libraries and exhibition halls will remain open, but their visitor capacity will rise from the current 30% to 50%. Most of Barcelona's cultural venues have already announced that they are resuming their activities next week.
In the second reopening phase, which is scheduled to begin two weeks later, cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and concert halls may open with 70% visitor capacity and a maximum of 500 people. Museums, libraries and exhibition halls will remain at 50% capacity.
On 21 December, the third phase will mean that museums, libraries and exhibition halls can increase their capacities to 70%, while cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and concert halls will remain at 70%, with a maximum of 500 people.
In the fourth phase, in January 2021, all visitor capacities will remain at 70%, but in the case of cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and concert halls. the maximum number of spectators admitted inside will rise to 1,000.
Another significant aspect of cultural activities is people's mobility. During the first stage, weekend mobility – from Friday to Sunday – will still be limited to the residential municipality of the people concerned, while in the second stage, the limit will be the residential comarca, or county. On entering the third phase, all mobility limitations will be lifted.
Furthermore,during all four phases, the 10 pm to 6 am curfew will be maintained, but as currently happens, people who have attended a cultural activity may return home at a later time and this can be justified by showing the entrance ticket for the activity.