The cabinet must provide clarity as soon as possible about whether or not all major summer festivals will continue. That says director Ruben Brouwer in the BNR program Rush hour.
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Festivals are prohibited until June 1, but what happens next is uncertain. ‘I think the industry will benefit greatly from clarifying quickly over a longer period than until 1 June. As long as we have no clarity about this as a sector, we must continue to prepare.
“We can all sense that festivals will not take place on June 1, but we don’t know that yet.” Festivals are currently ‘at enormous risk’, according to Brouwer. “Some festivals have been preparing for six months.”
Contracts and insurance
Festivals are less likely to decide to stop themselves, because according to Brouwer they are often tied to contracts with artists or suppliers. “The moment the government says: it is no longer allowed, then you have a situation where there is force majeure, as a result of which contracts no longer go through or insurance policies come into effect.”
The government has indicated that more clarity will be given on 21 April about the period after that. Brouwer hopes that there will be more clarity for the festivals. ‘The sooner the better.’
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