Syracusae Studio

Feb 21st, 2022

Cute venue hidden away
Jul 18th, 2021

I attended the 'Open Doors' Sunday afternoon session for their re-opening weekend, and feel really frustrated and disappointed by the experience. The venue is beautiful and the staff are very friendly - however, through their communications, I'd felt certain that COVID-safety was a priority and therefore that being in the space and attending would be a relatively safe experience. This was not the case, however - and as a result, it feels that the communications were misleading, and irresponsible to be communicating in this way but also to be conducting sessions in a way that pays little regard to the importance of COVID-safety. On my arrival to the venue, hosts, attendees and teachers were hugging. I understand that these people clearly knew each other - but as someone who is new to the space and is socially distancing (as should be the norm), this set things off in a slightly alienating way. As I was walking into the space, my need for social distancing was not being recognised by others, who were lingering near entrances etc, which would mean I wouldn't be able to come through until they had moved. The teacher came to speak with me in the space, and stood about 1m from me - in an indoor space, social distancing should be at a 2m distance. The open door at the back isn't enough to qualify for being an 'outdoor' space. And then the first activity started, which involved walking around the room, with many people walking at speed, moving in random directions - encouraged to change direction and pace frequently, and as a result coming well within 2m of each other constantly. This is not a safe activity. It wasn't set up in a way to make it safe, and it simply was not safe. I had to leave for my own safety and sanity. I am aware that many of the people there will not feel the same way as I do, and that is fine - we each have different risk tolerances. However, we have a duty as a society to ensure that those who are most vulnerable can be protected. As organisations and venues, it is their obligation to create as safe a space as possible - this is not what this was. People such as myself who are following the WHO guidelines and trying my best to keep my loved ones safe should not be excluded from spaces because they aren't willing to make the space and activities as safe as possible. As a result they are alienating groups of people who desperately want to be involved in these activities.
Apr 11th, 2021

Feb 24th, 2021

Jan 5th, 2021