The Port Theatre is proud to participate in the Canada-wide Day of Visibility.
Live Event Community, an organization formed to support Canadian live event workers who’ve lost their livelihoods due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, is organizing a Day of Visibility on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020.
Live Event Community is asking technicians, suppliers, and venues across Canada to light the night red one hour after sundown to raise awareness for an industry that is still dark — and will be one of the last to recover.
The effect of shutting down a $100 billion industry in Canada will have unimaginable impacts on both companies and individuals. Already, the vast majority of live event workers have been out of work or on government support since March, with no end in sight.
The arts, entertainment and recreation sector lost 152,000 of 486,100 jobs between June 2019 and June 2020, and 86% of businesses experienced a high level of impact due to the decrease in demand or cancellation of services. Those that are still employed have seen a 45% reduction in hours worked. The corporate and business events sector directly employs an additional 229,000 Canadians according to a 2017 Oxford Economics study.
Venues and landmarks across the country will light red on September 22, 2020 to light up these dark theatres and concert halls, convention centres and festival grounds. Live Event Community calls on the live event community — many of whom work in the backstage hallways and tiny offices crammed behind the ballrooms and stages — to stand up and be seen.
Live events are an important part of the cultural and economic fabric of Canada.
The industry is requesting:
• That the government recognize our industry has been devastated by the effects of COVID-19, and there is no set date for return. We were the first out and will be one of the last to return.
• Continued financial support for live event workers until the industry is back to work.
• Assistance for companies throughout the supply chain who work to create, produce, manufacture and support the live event industry.
The Day of Visibility for the Live Event Community will run Tuesday, September 22, 2020 from an hour after sundown, coast to coast. Follow along at https://lightuplive.ca. Live event workers looking for resources can visit https://liveeventcommunity.org
