Green MPs Elisabeth Meuleman and Lotte Stoops endorse the sector's cry for help and call for a long-term vision.

'We urge Prime Minister Jambon to finally work on a long-term plan for the sector, taking into account, for example, room capacity and ventilation standards, instead of constantly closing everything from the sports palace to a small theatre hall for a hundred people,' meuleman emphasises. She continues: 'A well-drawn-out, predictable switching plan is also needed, so that the sector knows where it stands every time COVID catches up with us, instead of constantly having to take new blows. The sector has already proven to be able to contribute constructively and successfully to this. We will resubmit these and several other proposals in the Flemish Parliament, because this cannot wait any longer,' says Meuleman. 'Once again it became painfully clear that the cultural sector cannot count on Prime Minister Jambon, who is responsible for Culture. While the sector is slowly being strangled, Jambon is watching with his hands in his pockets. That is really shocking,' says Meuleman. Omikron variantThe Greens acknowledge that we do not yet know what the Omikron variant will entail and that the situation must be closely monitored. Especially in uncertain times, there is a need for logical, explainable and predictable policy. However, because culture was imposed stricter measures, but catering and sports were not, the perception of arbitrariness prevails. "The mental impact created by the arbitrariness in the policy is enormous: months of working on a performance only to have to abruptly cancel everything: for both artists and audiences, that is always a huge blow," says Stoops. At the same time, the hasty decision to close the cultural sector has major financial consequences. 'In addition to being a socially essential sector, the cultural sector is also economically important. Thousands of people and families are now without a profession, without income. The impact of the successive closures and yo-yo policy will reverberate in the sector for years to come. In the long term, there is a great need for more support measures to prevent tragedies," the Green MPs underline. The cultural sector is gathering on the Mont des Arts today, after Stany Crets called for it. They do this in protest against the decision that the cultural sector must close. Stoops, himself a director, is also present today. 'In recent months, the sector has really done everything to organise performances safely. The fact that they were abruptly forced to close completely, while Christmas markets and restaurants remain open, feels unbalanced and inexplicable," Stoops concludes.