Ross-shire culture vultures keen for fix of the arts as coronavirus crisis eases
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
ARTS lovers in a Ross-shire community are "champing at the bit" to get a fix of culture and carefully monitoring the coronavirus situation as they assess what they feel comfortable doing.
That is one of the conclusions of a survey carried out by Cromarty Arts Trust (CAT) which quizzed locals as part of a survey designed to help it plan a phased return to live performance and workshops.
Around 60 per cent of the 240 responding said they would feel comfortable to attend events "as soon as soon as you're allowed to reopen".
The arts trust stages live performances and a wide variety of workshops at venues which include The Old Brewery and The Stables.
Referring to the survey, CAT said: "The findings and comments are really interesting and helpful and mostly extremely positive with lots of you clearly champing at the bit to return to our venues for a much-needed arts and culture fix!"
While the hard-hit entertainment sector is now slowly getting the opportunity to open up, the survey echoes a cautious streak with a fifth of people agreeing with the comment: " "Even once your venues are allowed to reopen, to protect myself, I am unlikely to attend."
Other comments left give a sense of how many are feeling: "I will probably leave going to any venues until next year", wrote one.
"Once a vaccine is available I will feel comfortable attending", said another. "I have always enjoyed the venues and have been impressed at their cleanliness so have no doubts about returning", said another.
And reflecting ongoing concerns over physical distancing, another said: ""I'll feel comfortable to attend if I feel that seating has been arranged so that spectators are not in close proximity to each other".
The trust hopes that gigs and concerts scheduled for October and November will go ahead, all being well.
Asked about what would make them feel comfortable to attend future workshops or events, the vast majority flagged availability of hand sanitiser and hand-washing facilities and assurances over cleaning procedures and – crucially – limits on numbers attending and seats or work stations being at least two metres apart.
The trust is making "tentative" plans for the rest of the year.
