Following the success of the #WeMakeEvents campaign in the UK, #WeMakeEvents #RedAlertRESTART and #ExtendPUA represented a major call to action on Tuesday 1 September 2020, imploring the US Congress to pass the RESTART Act (S.3814) as quickly as possible, offering economic relief to the live events industry, which has been shuttered since March 2020.
The movement supported ExtendPUA.org in their efforts towards continuation and extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to provide relief to those without work due to COVID-19.
“We had no intentions to piggy back on the convention, and we began receiving feedback from several US cities with concern about having our event on the same day. Therefore, a decision was made to move the date in order to expand our exposure,” explained #WeMakeEvents North American Director, Brad Nelms. “In the meantime, the group has managed to gather incredible support for this important movement, signing on more than 30 regional directors to lead the initiative in markets nationally. This team have been so fired up and already have commitments from hundreds of incredible venues and iconic locations nationally who will show support.”
Over 1,500 buildings, structures, and residences were lit in red from 9pm-12am (local time in each market) as the event swept North America and Canada. The goal to raise public awareness that the live events industry is on ‘red alert’ for its very survival, creating congressional pressure to act now.
#BeAnArtsHero, a grassroots coalition of arts and cultural workers, reported: “The Arts & Culture sector employs 5.1 million people and provides $877bn value added to the U.S. economy. It adds more value to the economy than transportation, agriculture, or tourism. The Arts & Culture sector is a cornerstone of the larger U.S. economy, making up 4.5% of GDP. Despite their out-sized cultural and economic contribution, the Arts & Culture sector of the U.S. economy is in grave danger.”
The targeted list of cities which took part in #WeMakeEvents #RedAlertRESTART #ExtendPUA event on 1 September 2020 across North America included: Washington D.C., Huntsville, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, Baltimore, Las Vegas, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Nashville, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Boulder, Fayetteville, Lexington, Louisville, and Canadian neighbours including Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
The North American event comes on the heels of #WeMakeEvents Red Alert day of action on 11 August when over 700 buildings were lit in red, calling attention to the plight facing the UK live events industry.
As theatres, concert tours, festivals, opera houses, trade shows, and other live events as well as film and television production remain closed, or open on a very limited basis, the entire industry is impacted, from designers, technicians, programmers, and stagehands to rental shops, manufacturers, and distributors of entertainment technology. The first industry to close last March, Live Events could be the last sector to re-open due to the COVID-19 crisis.
