Rijeka, the city sharing the 2020 designation of European Capital of Culture (ECoC ) with Galway, has announced it will postpone cultural events scheduled to take place in March and in the first half of April due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Events in the Croatian port city located on the Adriatic Sea including ECoC conferences, workshops, and lectures at the RiHub space, have been suspended until April 14 with a decision about other events penned in for the second half of April and for May to be made by mid-April.
RIJEKA 2020 director Emina Višnic said; “All culture enthusiasts doubtlessly wish to attend events in culture and enjoy them to the max without worry or fear. [We are] Aware that many citizens and visitors are unable to attend ECoC programmes without reservations due to various necessary precautions that are being taken, but also due to personal reasons related to their understanding of the danger of the epidemic, we made this decision to postpone the events until such a time when the danger of the coronavirus spreading will no longer be present.
“Our wish is to allow everyone to attend and participate in ECoC programmes without worrying about the current risks associated with the epidemic and the spreading of the virus.
“For the time being, all events scheduled for March and for the first half of April have been postponed. We will inform the public about possible postponements of other programmes and about the new dates for the programmes we can reschedule in respect of future developments.”
The news comes after Galway 2020 decided to cancel and postpone events in the city and county during the period up to March 29, in order to comply with Government guidenance on how to contain the spread of the virus.
Sruth na Teanga by Branar; Home Truths: Domestic Violence Response Exhibition; and Galway Theatre’s festival launch event, InterAction have all been cancelled. Savage Beauty by Finnish light artist Kari Kola was cancelled to the public but has been made available in a digital edition on www.Galway2020.ie
A spokesperson for Galway 2020 said; “Following the guidance issued by the Government in relation to new measures to contain Covid-19, Galway 2020 in conjunction with our cultural partners and artists have been reviewing all of our events scheduled during the period up to March 29.
“While Galway 2020 and our cultural partners are extremely disappointed to have made these decisions, public health is our number one priority, and we must follow Government advice.”
The events which have been postponed during the period are; The Deepest Shade of Green - West of Sumer by Saolta Arts, launch, and talk; Northern Peripheries, Galway Stories Through A Lens by Galway Film Centre in association with Screen Talent Europe; West Words and Apeirogon events at Galway Public Libraries; Comhaltas - Moycullen 17th March; Livefeed (Loughrea ); To The Moon by Laurie Anderson; Onside & National Football Exhibition by the Football Association of Ireland; Threads by TULCA ; Immersive Classroom by NUI Galway; Reimagine Loughrea by Irish Architecture Foundation; and Buzzing by Kiltiernan National School
