Blackfriars Theatre and Arts Centre are proud to be supporting the #LightItInRed campaign to raise awareness and support for Theatres and the Entertaiment sector during this pandemic. We will be Lighting Blackfriars Theatre Red this evening and a group of us will be gathering at 9pm - anyone is welcome to come along and join us for this 'Socially Distanced' outdoor gathering - we need as many people as possible to share and promote the event on Facebook and other social media platforms to build awareness of the issues our industry is facing. 

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 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. â€‹

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 go to https://www.lightitinred.co.uk/