Guidance for Reopening Cinemas
Following the announcement from Welsh Government that cinemas can reopen from the 27th July, 2020, we know you will be carefully considering your next steps. We’ve put together some guidance and advice from leading organisations and associations within the sector to help inform your decisions:
Reopening: Welsh Government guidance for culture and heritage destinations and venues
The reopening of culture and heritage destinations and venues can only be possible within the current COVID-19 regulations.
- The Welsh Government has set out guidance for organisations and individuals in Wales who manage culture and heritage destinations and venues that are open to the public. Read the latest guidance here.
- Theatres, concert halls and cinemas: potential reasonable measures action card. Read the guidance here.
- Hospitality venues: potential reasonable measures action card. Read the guidance here.
COVID Pass: guidance
As of Monday 15th November 2021, visitors to cinemas, theatres, and concert halls in Wales will be required to show a COVID pass. Below are some useful links:
- COVID Pass: guidance for businesses and events
- NHS COVID Pass Verifier app
- Technical Advisory Group: advice on vaccine passports
- Organisations may also wish to consult their Local Authorities for guidance on the COVID pass.
NHS COVID Pass promotional pack:
This includes bilingual videos and posters to help with communicating to audiences
Get your NHS COVID Pass:
How to get the NHS COVID Pass to prove that you are vaccinated against COVID-19 or have tested negative.
Test, trace, protect guidance
Keeping records of staff, customers, and visitors: test, trace, protect. Guidance issued by the Welsh Ministers under regulation 13 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020.
UK Cinema Association guidance for cinemas
The UK Cinema Association has been working with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the British Film Institute, the Screen Sector Task Force, the Independent Cinema Office and Bectu, Public Health England (PHE), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the devolved nations to develop guidance for keeping workers and customers safe during COVID-19.
- To find out more about the UKCA’s cinema safeguarding campaign read The Bigger Picture’s article: UK Cinema Association launches cinema safeguarding campaign
ICO article: Further considerations for independent cinemas when thinking about reopening
This article is intended as advice on further safeguarding considerations that independent cinema operators can make in addition to the guidance set out in the UKCA’s Working safely during COVID-19 in Cinemas.
They have identified three core areas of operation to consider when reopening our cinemas: Health & Safety, Economic necessity and Cultural robustness.
Guidance for Community Cinemas and Nontheatrical Exhibitors
With venues reopening and films coming to the market, the Film Audience Network have compiled a document covering the most important questions, opportunities and considerations if you’re thinking of showing films again soon.
Featuring advice on planning, programming, audience and volunteer safety, the guidance will be updated as and when conditions change.
The guidance can be downloaded here.
Welsh Government have also released guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose community centres:
We Are Parable Audience Confidence research
We are Parable carried out research to explore the confidence of Black audiences upon their return to cinemas.
In June 2020, they administered the survey to almost 1100 nationwide respondents.
The Audience Agency Bounce Forwards Recovery Route Maps
The Audience Agency’s Using Evidence To… route-maps are designed to help you navigate your own data and The Audience Agency’s free resources to clear key hurdles for bouncing forwards.
CICAE
CICAE have a host of useful resources and articles on their website around the theme of reopening.
Reopening Communications from Members
Find some great examples of how members are communicating with their audiences about what to expect when they reopen.