The organizers of the Midsummer Prog Festival have shared a statement regarding the closing of the Openluchttheater Valkenburg (Valkenburg, The Netherlands), the long-cultural open-air venue where the event has been held annually for several years.

Statement from the organizers as follows:

"Hi everyone,

"It’s already become known within our prog family, so we can't delay issuing an official statement. Unfortunately, Openluchttheater Valkenburg is facing issues with its noise permit due to the municipality of Valkenburg. It’s baffling that such a valuable cultural institution should be restricted in such a sudden manner, after 52 years of remarkable contributions to the region’s culture.

"To clarify, this situation did not arise because local residents lodged complaints—there has always been a positive relationship between the theatre, the neighbourhood, and Midsummer Prog.

"Ultimately, none of that changes the reality we’re facing. We all had high hopes for a workable solution, but regrettably, the local authorities think otherwise and seem to overlook the additional economic benefits that so many local businesses enjoy as a result of the theatre’s success.

"That said, we have no intention of giving up on MSP. We just ask for a bit of patience as we explore a few potential scenarios, which may impact the date and venue. We hope to update you soon!"

Source:

midsummerprog.com