Who are we?
Inspired by Germany's #NightOfLight2020, #LightItInRed is a joint project created and managed by Clearsound Productions Ltd, a UK based production company, in partnership with the Backstage Theatre Jobs forum. The team behind this event have over 100 combined years of experience within a variety of sectors of the events industry; from club nights, concerts, and festivals and from touring to corporate events and theatre. Our team have all been directly affected by the COVID crisis and know firsthand the importance of getting the message out about the dire situation that our industry and our fellow industry professionals are facing.
The events industry will not survive the next 100 days!
Since early March, the events industry has been mostly without work. All kinds of major events are currently prohibited due to the COVID-19 crisis. Corporate events, conferences, concerts, festivals, weddings, trade shows and theatrical performances are no longer able to go ahead. This is leaving an entire industry dormant, with over twenty-five thousand businesses and over half a million workers throughout the UK directly suffering the ill effects.
A mass appeal and a call for help to politicians to save the events industry
Companies from all across the events industry, as well as event locations, (event centres, convention centres, conference hotels, theatres, concert halls, playhouses and nightclubs) throughout the UK are invited to join together on the night of the 6th of July 2020. By lighting their buildings, or buildings in their region, red in order to draw attention to the dramatic situation in the event industry we can make a statement that can't be ignored. We were the first ones out, and will be the last ones back in.
We are calling for help!
Our goal is to have a conversation with politicians and the government about how the billion-pound events industry can be saved from a massive wave of insolvency and how the preservation of over half a million jobs can be ensured. The events industry is a complex industry made up of many different trades and disciplines. For this reason, the events industry as a whole has no central lobby. Our action is aimed at the general public to draw attention to the dramatic situation of the event. In order to do this we need a large scale campaign that takes place all across the UK and has an extensive media reach. For all those involved in this event the action is to simultaneously light buildings and structures across the nation. The selected buildings and structures will be illuminated in red on the night of the 6th of July 2020. Images and videos of the illuminated buildings and structures can be uploaded and posted on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter under the hashtag #LightItInRed – so that anyone interested can look at the nationwide installations online and support our movement.
The events industry urgently needs a bailout until the markets returns, including:
1. Grants made available to businesses in the events supply chain
2. Furlough scheme extended until the industry is back to work
3. Extension of the self-employment scheme, tailored towards the industry
Germany have recognised their events industry, now it is time for our government to do the same before it is too late!!
