#LightItInRed is a UK based direct action lighting protest that is scheduled to take place on the night of Monday 6th July 2020 to draw attention to the critical condition of the UK live event and entertainment industry and its need for special government support to see it through to re-starting.
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.
About #LightItInRed
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.
The #LightItInRed’s campaign 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 the 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
Inspired by Germany’s #NightOfLight, Germany have recognised their events industry, now it is time for our government to do the same before it is too late!
Visit www.lightitinred.co.uk for more information. To see the buildings involved, just search #LightItInRed on any social media platform