Teams from SLLFX, JK Entertainments and Pfphotographics joined forces to light The Hub at St. Mary’s in Lichfield red. The event was part of a day of action from the UK live entertainment industry to highlight the challenges the sector faces at a time when events are essentially banned.
The Hub at St. Mary’s was one of more than 700 buildings across the UK that were lit in red on Tuesday 11 August. The #LightItInRed night of action served to highlight the cultural institutions and companies that form a vital sector of the UK’s culture and economy.
“It seems there is no industry untouched by the impact of COVID-19. However, some sectors have been hit harder than others and it’s important for people and more importantly the government to realise that it’s an entire ecology that is affected when it comes to the impact on the Arts,” said Anthony Evans, Creative Director at The Hub at St. Mary’s. “It’s not just artists, dancers and actors that will feel the pinch – technicians, electricians, producers, promoters and wardrobe seamstresses, to name a few, will lose livelihoods without performances and audiences in venues. The announcement of the Cultural Relief Fund is welcome, but more support is needed if venues like The Hub at St Mary’s and all its supporting staff and arts freelancers are to survive.”
While the £1.57 billion fund for the arts, culture and heritage industries is a welcome first step, this only supports a very small part of the industry and will not filter down to the vast majority who work in this sector. “If the UK is to remain a thriving and iconic cultural beacon, we need a government that values the sector as a whole and who place importance on its cultural value as much as the economic benefit,” stated Evans. “We are so proud to light our building in red and stand with all our peers and colleagues in the industry in calling for this understanding and support.”
“The whole industry is on red alert and we need people to see the effect this shutdown could have on the country,” added Adam Turbill, Managing Director at SLLFX. “We are proud to stand with our friends and colleagues across the events industry to help raise awareness of the potential crisis that the industry will be facing without urgent support. Helping The Hub at St. Mary’s turn red will hopefully have played a small part in showing people in every part of the UK just how far this problem goes and how many lives it will touch.”
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