Government moves to end confusion over indoor limits for arts and culture events

Following a sequence of contradictory statements and advice from Government departments yesterday regarding the new limits at indoor cultural events, the Government has now confirmed that a 50-person indoor limit applies to theatres, museums, cinemas and art galleries, but a six-person limit applies to all other indoor cultural events.

The full Government statement is, as follows:

"Following consultation with the Ministers of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht and the Minister for Health, the following clarification applies to measures introduced with respect to the cultural sector:

"Businesses/services such as museums, cinemas, theatres and art galleries are deemed to be controlled environments, with appropriate protective measures in place such as physical distancing between people. These venues can continue to operate where appropriate physical distancing and all other protective measures can continue to be maintained. Individual groupings attending these venues must be limited to six people from no more than 3 households. Overall attendance must adhere to an overall limit of 50 people.

"All other indoor cultural events are subject to the 6 person maximum rule."

"All outdoor events are subject to the new limits of 15. These events are deemed as mass gatherings where there is a concentration of people at a specific location for a specific purpose over a set period of time. These types of events provide opportunities for the virus to spread."