Hygiene concepts for events

From the middle of March 2020, life at events in the city of Chemnitz came to a standstill. Numerous concerts, trade fairs and congresses had to be cancelled. Therefore, alternative concepts were needed and possible event formats were sought that could also be implemented under the restrictions.

In close consultation with the local authorities, we therefore developed hygiene concepts that allowed us to gradually reopen our venues. How we solved this in the houses of C³ Chemnitzer Veranstaltungszentren GmbH is presented in this blog post.

New event formats and relocation of events

In order to maintain event life in Chemnitz and the region, we designed successful solutions with our hygiene concepts and thus created added value for cultural life. The prerequisites were met to realise events in the shortest possible time.

For example, within two weeks we organised the city's first drive-in cinema together with local partners. The first film flickered across the screen at the premiere on the exhibition car park on 22 April. Later, the film programme was supplemented with cabaret, poetry slam and a car disco. A maximum of 230 car parking spaces or 460 visitors per event were permitted. This new event format in Chemnitz was received with great enthusiasm and gratitude by the visitors.

During this time and beyond, the exhibition hall was converted into the Corona Outpatient Clinic. From 17 March, this was the contact point for all Chemnitz residents to get tested or also receive first aid in the event of an infection. The infrastructure and spacious premises of the Chemnitz Trade Fair Centre were particularly decisive for this task.

At the beginning of May, Wasserschloss Klaffenbach reopened for exhibitions, observing the distance and hygiene rules. The first cultural event took place on 28 May. Originally, the concert with the musician Felix Meyer was planned in the citizens' hall of the castle building, but was moved to the castle courtyard to comply with and guarantee the distance rules. More than 150 guests were thus able to listen to the performance in a relaxed atmosphere.

And Chemnitz politics also benefited from our hygiene concepts. Since the stadium on Gellertstraße has more spacious rooms, city council meetings were moved there from the town hall.

The "Carlowitz Dialogue" with Saxony's Minister for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture, Wolfram Günther on 23 June was the first event at the Carlowitz Congress Centre Chemnitz. Here, too, our newly developed hygiene concept formed the basis for the preparations and implementation.

This is what our hygiene concepts for events include

In developing the hygiene concepts, we were guided by the general decree of the Free State of Saxony on the enforcement of the Infection Protection Act of 12 May 2020. Regular checks and adjustments are made in the event of new decrees. This ensures that our event venues comply with the currently valid regulations of the Saxon State Ministry for Social Affairs and Social Cohesion.

The successful implementation of this requires far-reaching, organisational and flexible measures in advance.

Our event venues and the respective rooms have very different capacities, so that we have used a gross area of 8m2 per visitor as the decisive criterion and basis for assessment in the hygiene concepts. For examinations, weddings or lectures, a usable room area of 4m² per visitor is taken as a basis.

We have taken the following precautions, among others, to comply with the official hygiene regulations and distance rules:

In addition, special hygiene measures were integrated into the hygiene concepts:

Mandatory mouth and nose covering only applies to staff who are in direct contact with visitors. For visitors, we recommend this for the toilet facilities and common areas. Nevertheless, in order to ensure a follow-up of a possible infection event, visitors will be registered in the entrance area or already during online ticket sales. This will become mandatory for future events.

Secure future prospects with hygiene concepts

In the future, the topics of distance and hygiene will continue to accompany us and other organisers. Our hygiene concepts will be a guideline and prerequisite for the safe and successful implementation of planned events. These concepts show how the official hygiene regulations and distance rules can be implemented with suitable measures even in times of planning uncertainty.

The hygiene concepts developed and the associated responsible approach with clear framework conditions create location security for the event industry as well as all service providers in the region who are directly related to it. Thus, the locations of C³ Chemnitzer Veranstaltungszentren GmbH with the given infrastructures and organisations have sufficient prerequisites to safely hold events with additional measures in compliance with the applicable distance and hygiene regulations.

Do you also need or want to create a hygiene concept? Our event experts will be happy to share with you our experience with the creation and implementation.