In an open letter, Showlight Chairman, John Allen, explains the reasons behind the decision to further postpone the lighting quadrennial in its traditional form. The letter reads as following [sic]:
“The Showlight committee has been reviewing the current state of our industry and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment in many of our theatres, conference centres, touring venues, and within our manufacturing and servicing companies. We have also considered the difficulties and unpredictability of travel bans, quarantining and the effect of Brexit, and none of our conclusions are encouraging.
“As a result, we have reluctantly decided that a traditional Showlight in 2022 at Fontainebleau is not viable in any form so a further postponement will be necessary, and we will reconsider our options for Showlight 2023 next Spring, ideally to take place in Fontainebleau as previously planned.
“Our main considerations when reaching this decision revolve around a number of major concerns. Showlight delegates come from many branches of our industry and we fully appreciate that those who are freelancers or part of teams within performance spaces may not be able to spare the time or even afford to attend if they are finally back in any kind of regular employment after long periods of inactivity.
“Others who work in studios and on film sets or in servicing and supply may also find that they cannot be spared from work places if the industry is beginning to show signs of new growth. Our sponsors and exhibitors too, on whom we rely for financial support, may also be finding times tough and in need of a period of revival before being able to actively take part again in a live Showlight.
“Added to all this, the Showlight committee, who are mainly based in the UK, although there are also members in the US, France and Germany, need to plan all aspects of the event and onsite meetings and visits to the locality are necessary. It is hoped that the requirements for quarantining will be lifted soon, but current restrictions on travel, new visa requirements and simply planning catering and the social side of Showlight with local companies, who are also experiencing problems of COVID-19, simply add to the difficulties of organisation.
“Showlight will return again in all its glory just as soon as possible but until COVID-19 can be controlled and we are back to a better time for the lighting industry, we have to wait in the wings.”
John Allen
Chairman
Showlight