Brighton & Hove event industry join ‘Light It In Red’

In collaboration with Brighton and Hove Council and many of the city’s event venues, The Brighton Event Professionals Independent Committee (EPIC) has joined the Light It In Red Campaign on Monday 6th July. At 9pm on this day, many of the city’s venues and outdoor event spaces will be turned red to shine a light on the crisis within the events industry during the Covid-19 lockdown. EPIC are inviting its members and all local event producers in the area to help with this event, and they will be donating their services and equipment free of charge.

Brighton & Hove is home to a highly concentrated number of event organisers, event promoters, contractors and suppliers who produce hundreds of events in the city and beyond throughout the year. Their work includes some of the city’s most iconic celebrations, such as Brighton & Hove Pride, The Great Escape Festival, Brighton Festival, Kemptown Carnival, Children’s Parade, Brighton Half Marathon and Paddle Round the Pier.

These events generate tens of millions of pounds worth of revenue for the city both directly and through the hospitality, leisure and transport industries and these companies employ hundreds (sometimes thousands) of local people to deliver them. The closure of venues and cancellations of events has resulted in a significant financial loss for these businesses, and the event industry is now on the red list of acutely endangered industries.

Commenting on this matter, Ian Baird, EPIC Chair said:
“From the start of the Coronavirus crisis, venues and events have been in complete lockdown and are looking to have one of the slowest recoveries of almost any industry in the UK. Brighton ‘Night of Light’ is about highlighting the range of venues and event spaces in Brighton that are in real danger of never coming back and the terrible loss that would be to our City and its rich cultural heritage.”

Brighton Night of Light is part of the national Light It In Red campaign hopes to draw public and political attention to the severe situation in the events industry and push forward a much-needed recovery dialogue.

To register your venue on the national map visit www.lightitinred.co.uk and advertise the action on the night with the following social tags:
Facebook/Twitter: @lightitinred
Instagram: @light_it_in_red
Hashtag for socials: #LightItInRed

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