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2 The Portugal News · 21 Nov 2020 News
Music and festival industry on the brink
The Portuguese Association of Music Festivals (Aporfest) has called on the Government
to come up with a “strategy” for the sector, which is at risk of collapse, while
demonstrations are being organised to highlight the plight of the sector.
“a country without culture and as artists to join the protest.
entertainment in the future”. And The concert venues closed in
the little that survives will tend to March, when the first state of
be devoid of quality. How long will emergency was declared, although
professionals in this sector have to the shows began to be postponed
continue to sacrifice themselves or cancelled before that. The
without any light at the end of the venues were able to reopen from 1
tunnel?” June but with hygiene and safety
In May, the Government standards defined.
announced a ban on “festivals With the entry into force of the
and shows of a similar nature” second state of emergency and
until 30 September. At the end the decree of a new partial curfew,
of September, the Government ,concert venues throughout the
decided to extend this ban until 31 country have been once again
December this year. However, these forced to change schedules or
types of shows are allowed with postpone programming, so as to
marked places and compliance with maintain the activity, which can
rules that allow social distancing. ensure their survival.
In the case of postponements, ticket The Government has decreed the
holders were entitled to request curfew between 11pm and 5am,
their exchange for a voucher “of on weekdays, from Monday 16
equal value to the price paid”, November as well as “limitation
valid until 31 December 2021, and of freedom of movement”
which can be used in the “purchase on weekends of the 14 and
of tickets for the same show to be 15 November and 21 and 22
held on a new date or for other November.
events held by the same promoter”. The number of 121 initial
Festivals and music concerts across the country have been largely postponed, leaving the sector facing economic If the voucher is not used by 31 municipalities, most affected by
turmoil. (Photo: Lusa/ Jose Sena Goulão) December, 2021, “the bearer is the pandemic, covered by those
entitled to a refund of [his] value”, restrictions, rose last week to 191
and may request it from 1 January, municipalities, as announced by
The first news of cancellations were meant to take place were 2022, within 14 working days”. the Prime Minister last week, after
or postponements of festivals all postponed to 2021. Barroselas Meanwhile, another industry meeting of the Council of Ministers.
for 2022, as is the case with Metalfest is the first Portuguese association, the Association of For APEFE, this decision “is a big
“ SWR Barroselas Metalfest, music festival to be postponed from Promoters of Shows, Festivals blow for the sector.”
which did not happen in 2020 and 2021 to 2022 and there are fears and Events (APEFE) will hold a “We do not understand, because if
ANGLOPRESS Edições e Publicidade, Lda will not happen in 2021, returning in that many others could follow suit. “Demonstration for Culture” on the rules are followed in the venues,
Copyright ©2020 Anglo Press Lda. The Portugal
News is part of the Portugal News Group estab- 2022 is of great concern. It is time for Aporfest argues that music Saturday in Lisbon. and if they are safe - and are safer
lished 1977. Depósito Legal Nº 80258/94 the festival, events and culture sector festivals cannot be forgotten Contacted by Lusa, Sandra Faria, than going to the supermarket -
CONTACTS to finally be looked at with a strategy and they criticised the lack of an from APEFE, explained that the how can supermarkets be open and
Postal Address: for guardianship and to prevent the “effective and efficient strategy demonstration will take place concert halls not, within those times,
Apt 13 • 8401-901 • Lagoa
entire sector and its professionals of the Ministry of Culture. The “inside Campo Pequeno, as if it when circulation is organised, when
Courier Address: from no longer existing” Aporfest said association states that “more than were a show”. That is, “complying there is social distancing between
Rua Município de S. Domingo in a statement. 300 annual festivals bring wealth with the rules imposed by the people, when it is mandatory to wear
Urb.Lagoa Sol, Lote 3 r/c
8400-415 Lagoa The pandemic has caused music to Portugal, coming from the Directorate-General of Health”, a mask?” questioned Sandra Faria,
festivals to be cancelled or postponed flow of national and international and with the capacity of the from APEFE, in a statement to Lusa.
Classifieds: +351 282 380 315 around the world this year, which audiences, something that becomes enclosure limited to 2,000 people. The Culture sector, which “is already
Sales: +351 282 380 310
Accounts: +351 282 343 653 bring together thousands of people more important when festivals are According to Sandra Faria, experiencing tragedy in 2020”,
Newsdesk: +351 282 380 313 and the focus mainly being on the held outside of main cities”. APEFE invited “formal and considers that the situation has been
General: +351 282 341 100
Email: info@theportugalnews.com summer months. Warning that the “situation is informal associations and made even worse due to the weekend
Web: www.theportugalnews.com In Portugal, the 2020 festivals that on the edge”, Aporfest foresees movements of the sector”, as well restrictions, she concluded.
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Print-run: 15,370 copies this edition Weekly Weather
Distributors: VASP
Warm and bright weekend
Member of apct audited circulation
Publisher: Paul Luckman
publisher@theportugalnews.com Mild temperatures and sunshine are expected across Portugal this weekend
Photos: LUSA • Press Association
Lisbon: The north: The centre: The south:
While The Portugal News has done its utmost to
ensure all advertiser information is correct, the It is to be a largely sunny weekend It is to be warm and mild Clear skies and sunshine is Sunshine and intermittent cloud
paper is unable to verify the content and/or claims
of adverts provided. in the capital with temperatures in the north with highs of 19 predicted in the centre all weekend is expected in the south of the
reaching highs of 19 degrees and degrees and lows of 9 degrees with temperatures reaching daily country on Saturday and Sunday
While The Portugal News has done its utmost to
lows of 11 degrees. From Wednesday over the weekend. From Mon- highs of 17 degrees and nightly lows with temperatures peaking at 19
ensure all advertiser information is correct, the
paper is unable to verify the content and/or claims there will be a chance of rain with day the clouds are due to roll in of 10 degrees. The mild weather is degrees and nightly lows of 14
of adverts provided.
the heaviest showers on Wednesday with rain then expected from to continue into the next week until degrees. From Tuesday cloud cover
and expected to continue through Wednesday and temperatures to rain clouds make an appearance is to increase before the rain clouds
Publicação registada na Entidade Reguladora para
a Comunicação Social com o número 127217 until Friday when temperatures are then drop to highs of 16 degrees on Wednesday with temperatures form on Wednesday, however tem-
Estatuto Editorial: www.theportugalnews.com/
to drop to highs of 16 degrees. and nightly lows of 10 degrees. falling to highs of 13 degrees. peratures will remain steady.
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