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Published:  8 Jul 2022

New report identifies vulnerabilities in the theatre sector and proposes solutions

The report provides an insight on the theatre sector and gives a comprehensive mapping of its socio-economic profile and impact across the EU, by gathering both quantitative and qualitative data.

Early on in 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture commissioned the study ‘The situation of theatres in the EU Member States’.

The purpose of this study was to identify the most vulnerable points and current problems in the theatre sector and proposals for different solutions.

The study, published in July 2022, highlights the sector’s diversity, the different business models that exist within it, as well as the programming methods across stakeholders and the EU.

Beyond COVID and other challenges

The authors of the study focused on the following subjects:

  • a first evaluation of the consequences of COVID-19 on the sector
  • the challenges to become a professional in the theatre industry
  • the efforts needed to reduce the carbon footprint of theatre activities

The series of crises and in particular the measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have had a very negative impact on the culture sector and on the performing arts and theatre sector in particular.

Based on the analysis of these issues, the study also sets out 15 recommendations for possible solutions to be explored and implemented where possible.

Policy background

The 2020 Annual Work Programme for the implementation of the Creative Europe Programme [pdf] foresees an action on ‘Sectorial support to the theatre sector’ in the form of a general study. The results of this are those presented in this report.

Read more about how the European Commission supports the theatre sector

Tagged in:  Creative Europe
Published:  8 Jul 2022