#LightItInRed: A plea to save the events industry

The events industry will not survive the next 100 days!

#LightItInRed: A plea to save the events industry

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.

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.

#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 government needs to help

The 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. #LightItInRed’s 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!!

For more information, visit https://www.lightitinred.co.uk/

Author

Tom Inniss

Tom Inniss Voice Team

Tom is the Editor of Voice. He is a politics graduate and holds a masters in journalism, with particular interest in youth political engagement and technology. He is also a mentor to our Voice Contributors, and champions our festivals programme, including the reporter team at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

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