THEATRES and museums fear they will suffer their own version of ‘long Covid’ after three lockdowns and continuous coronavirus regulations have forced venues to stay closed for months.

Lockdown and Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions have meant that all non-essential businesses had to shut their doors.

Grants from the Arts Council and the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund have helped museums, theatres, and galleries stay afloat despite the closures.

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Several Oxford venues, however, are still concerned about their future.

Louise Chantal, director of Oxford Playhouse, raised concerns about how long it might take for the theatre to get back to normal.

Ms Chantal said: “Of course, the safety of our audience is our first priority, but this third lockdown puts all our post-Covid planning on hold, with another batch of events being cancelled or postponed.”

The theatre’s main concern, however, is how the sudden policy changes will affect audience confidence in the long-term.

She added: “It seems likely the cultural sector will suffer our own version of long Covid, even when the vaccines have been successfully rolled out.

“However, we continue to evolve and adapt, investing in equipment which will extend our digital and streaming capacity so we can continue to present theatre and engage audiences in new ways no matter what the pandemic brings for 2021.”

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Xa Sturgis, director of the Ashmolean, said that while it was ‘sad’ to see the museum shut once again, the temporary closure was for the greater good.

He said: “It is sad and frustrating to have to close the Ashmolean’s doors again, particularly when museums can offer people solace, escape and enjoyment during difficult times such as these.

“But the health and safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors is of course paramount, and our temporary closure is part of the huge national effort to combat coronavirus.

“We plan to reopen as soon as national restrictions lift, and, like last year, we have comprehensive measures in place to welcome people back safely.”

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Rona Marsden planned to open her art gallery, ronapainting gallery, in Jericho in early November, however, these plans were put on hold due to the second nationwide lockdown.

Ms Marsden finally opened her venue in December, after the second lockdown ended, but three weeks later closed again when the county entered Tier 4.

She said: “It is not good.

“My February show had to move to April, and I am now doing an open call to find artists' work for International Women’s Day in March; I am hoping by then we will be allowed to open.”

She added: “I was not expecting the lockdown to be this long, I thought we would be open for January, I never thought it would be this bad.

“If only Boris had decided earlier, it would have then been easier for planning, but it was left too late.”

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