In order to restore the creative activities in art and corresponding culture organizations in the country, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia in cooperation with Ministry of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs, have developed general recommendations to tackle the new COVID-19 crisis.

According to these recommendations, organizations should strictly adhere to safety norms at all stages of creative activities and cultural events and must be guided by the developed recommendations.

Recommendations include a wide array of instructions such as: adherence to disinfection and hygiene standards during rehearsals and preparatory work, protocols for holding events in open and closed spaces, requests for procurement, holding auctions, planning exhibitions at museums and galleries, etc.

It is necessary to control the flow of individuals in the building / enclosed area; Visitors will be allowed only on a first-come, first-served basis; only one person is allowed on every 5 square meters in the exhibition hall. In case of guide services, the duration of the guided tour inside the closed space should not exceed 1 hour and the number of people must not exceed 10 individuals. The equipment must be disinfected after each use. Additionally, only three people will be allowed inside museum gift shops and stores, thus establishing strict social distancing.

In accordance with recommendations developed for the rehearsal activities of theaters, orchestras, song and dance ensembles, ballet troupes, choirs, and other creative groups in an enclosed space:

The rehearsal must adhere to a pre-designed schedule and should not exceed 10 individuals at a time. The duration of the rehearsal should not exceed two hours, the interval between shifts must be at least 1-1.5 hours. There must be at least two meters of distance between orchestra members when rehearsing for any given performance. As a given, any instrument or equipment used by the personnel, must be disinfected in accordance with the established guidelines. Moreover, social distancing must be maintained in dressing rooms, disinfecting equipment, costumes, or any related item after each use.

Recommendations for organizing events in an open space:

During the outdoor activities, the area should be pre-cleaned and disinfected, a safe (2 m) distance should be provided, and protective barriers must be erected if necessary. The stage should be separated from the spectator space by a special protective barrier, indicating a safe distance norm. Evidently, the stage equipment and microphones should be treated with disinfectant solution both prior and after the event.

In accordance to the recommendations developed for indoors, it is forbidden for visitors to enter the building without wearing protective face masks. Electronic system must be used as much as possible, when selling event tickets. In case a cash register is used, card payments must be encouraged, to avoid the use of cash as much as possible. The cashier should be equipped with gloves, and hand sanitizers should be placed at the cash register. Furthermore, any event or performance, must be held in one act, without any intermissions, and its duration must not exceed three hours. It is recommended to avoid any catering or buffet services.

The decision to lift restrictions to restore creative and artistic activity in the country, will largely depend on the epidemiological situation in the country.

The developed recommendations will help cultural organizations to carry out creative activities in compliance with all safety standards.

Detailed information about the general recommendations related to the infection caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) (COVID-19) can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Health: https://www.moh.gov.ge