Berlin Clubcommission trials the reopening of venues
Other cultural institutions such as operas and even Berlin’s tourism marketing agency participating in the trial later this month.
Berlin – A Mitte club will temporarily open its doors this month as part of a broader trial that may indicate how the country’s cultural institutions can reopen in the midst of the pandemic.
Holzmarkt, together with the Club Commission lobbying organisation, will hold a concert 27 March in its Säälchen event space at Holzmarkt where visitors can get a quick-test and ticket for €20.
“Of course the Säälchen isn’t really a club, it’s more a hybrid of a theatre and an event space,” Holzmarkt tweeted on Thursday. “But it is of course a step toward how events can soon also be possible inside clubs.”
The concert is part of a pilot program launched by Berlin’s government with the cooperation of some of Berlin’s biggest names in culture. Visitors must buy a ticket and then be tested at a local testing centre. At the door, they will then show proof of their identity and negative test.
Concerts, operas, football too
Surgical or FFP2 masks must be worn during the event and the hygiene rules everyone now knows by heart still apply.
“This kind of pilot is unique in Germany – and will hopefully contribute to being able to visit cultural events without fear,” Berlin culture minister Klaus Lederer (Die Linke) said. “As soon as possible.”
The results of the trial will be reviewed in April.
The Berliner Philharmoniker, Volksbühne theater and two operas are also participating in the program.
How does ticket booking and testing work?
- Booking of ticket as usual via the web-shop and completing the booking process. The Ticket, will then sent by email, will be issued with surname, first name and date of birth in order to enable clear identification.
- Together with the personalized ticket the ticket holder receives an information about certified test centers where a free SARS-CoV-2 antigen test will be carried out. The test must be up-to-date on admission and must not be older than 12 hours.
- After the smear test (SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid test) by medically trained staff in the test centre, participants will receive an email with a link to your test result after approx. 30 minutes.
- If the test is positive, participants are advised to go directly into isolation and to inform the responsible health department and the organizer. The ticket price will be reimbursed by the respective institution upon presentation of the test result.
- The SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid tests are free of charge for visitors as part of the pilot project.