The Canadian Institute of Theatre Technology (CITT/ICTS) shared an open letter posted on LiveEventCommunity.org proposing that Canadian companies light buildings red to communicate a Red Alert to the plight faced by the live event industry for a Day of Visibility on September 22nd. The initiative follows similar events in Europe, the U.K., South Africa, and Australia earlier this summer, along with the forthcoming awareness-raising campaign in the U.S. on September 1st.

Liveeventcommunity.org is a resource and voice for Canadian live event workers who have lost their livelihood due to COVID-19 shutting down events worldwide. Here’s their announcement and information:

Dear behind-the-scenes workers, event venues, and businesses,

We were the first to quit our jobs and everything indicates that we will be the last to find them. Many people have to choose between eating and paying rent in addition to being sometimes threatened with deportation. Production staff and artists, companies in all production and entertainment sectors go black.

We offer a visibility day for the entertainment and event industry. This is a Red Alert reminding Canadians that we are still here and ready to work, but to stop the spread of COVID-19, major events, conferences and concerts have been cancelled indefinitely.

On Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, one hour after sunset, we ask technicians, suppliers, and venue managers across the country to light up the night in red—which will show that our industry is still in The black one. Campaigns in Germany (#nightoflight2020) and the United Kingdom (#LightItInRed) have managed to raise the profile of a sector that has lost from 80 % to 95 % of its business since March.

We need every Canadian jurisdictional to find time and a red light bulb. It doesn’t have to be a giant show, we just ask for a red show. We need our rooms, workshops, houses (and gnomes!) be flooded with red. We would be delighted to see you, YOU, the workers, lit in red too! Give your town a little extra.

From August 28th, an interactive map will be available on liveeventcommunity.org/redalert and you will be able to present your installation. You will also find the opportunity to give a little love to the sponsor / supporter of your installation. An appropriate hashtag will allow us to push our cause ahead of the Sept. 22 trends. In the meantime, sign up for our newsletter to receive information as soon as it becomes available.

This is not a protest. We remind our communities and governments that we have been told to ensure the health of our fellow citizens and that we want to be ready to go back to work once the danger is over.
The arts and events community would like to thank our provincial and federal governments for supporting this stage with programs such as the UCS, the UCS, arts and heritage grants—but it’s not over. Our scenes, conference rooms, event centers are still in the dark. We need continued support until the lights turn on for good.

Further information from the Canadian Live Event Community.org, click here.

Join the #webuildentertainment, here.
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