Don’t be surprised if you’re seeing red tonight. Hundreds of live event and performance venues are banding together for Day of Visibility, today September 22, 2020. Created by Live Event Community, a group founded to help support workers in the Canadian event industry who have lost their livelihoods due to Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns and protocols.
One hour after sundown from St John’s NF, to Victoria, BC to Whitehorse YK, 500+ venues and buildings will light their exteriors red to raise awareness for an industry that is still mostly dark – and will be one of the last to recover. Throughout the evening, images and video will be shared across social media using the hashtags #LightUpLive / #EclaironsLesScenes to boost visibility.
The list of venues, which can be found at lightuplive.ca/map, includes renowned performance halls, theatres, arenas, and iconic landmarks like the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Massey Hall, La Ronde, Stratford Festival Theatre, the BC Legislature Buildings in Victoria.
Locally, look for community theatres to light up at Presentation House Theatre, Firehall Arts Centre, The Cultch, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, The Orpheum, Arts Club Theatre, The Chan Centre for Performing Arts, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Bell Centre for the Arts, Massey Theatre, Evergreen Art Centre and many more. As well Metro Vancouver landmarks, like Eye of the Wind on Grouse Mountain, Canada Place, Rogers Arena, Science World, North Vancouver & Vancouver City Halls.
“This grassroots movement has seemed to catch fire,” says Live Event Community co-founder and industry veteran Morgan Myler. “Our goal is to ensure the government acknowledges that our industry has been uniquely impacted by the effects of COVID-19, and that it will continue to offer financial support for live event workers and companies throughout the supply chain until large gatherings are once again deemed safe and the industry comes back to life.”
“This industry is built on passion, and that makes it inherently resilient,” adds Live Event Community co-founder Rob Duncan. “We’re all doing our best to weather this storm and appreciate the support we’ve already received from various levels of government and the general public; however, we’re in a uniquely challenging spot, and need assistance hardships to ensure the show can go on once we’re all on the other side of this pandemic.”
For more information and to see a list and interactive map featuring the participating venues, visit lightuplive.ca