On Sept. 1 the Mertes Center for the Arts was lit up in red to support the currently dark Live Events industry. The lighting was designed by LPC lighting designer Mike Rinaldi and stage technician Karl Haller.
The front of the building, which can be seen from miles away, was lit in red with the words “#WeMakeEvents.”On the west side of the building was a graphic with the words “Red Alert. #WeMakeEventsHappen”.
Theater and Performing Arts Department Coordinator Titian Lish said, “Thank you to the administration for allowing us to show our solidarity by drawing attention to the loss. Our hearts are broken, and the campus and administrative support means the world to us, as we stand in support of our fellow artists.”
We Make Events Happen is joining artists and arts organizations nationwide to raise awareness about the economic plight of all those who work in the live events industry.
LPC joined more than 1,500 venues lit in red to raise public and media awareness in support of the live venues sector at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. The lighting comes on the heels of 700 building lit in the United Kingdom on Aug. 11.
Be an Arts Hero, a grassroots coalition of arts and cultural workers, reports the arts and culture sector employees 5.1 million people. Sixty two percent of arts workers are fully unemployed due to COVID-19 shutdown, and 94% report income loss this year.
#WeMakeEventsappen is urging Congress to pass the Restart Act as soon as possible and offer economic relief to the Live Events industry. Be an Arts Hero is lobbying to help all artists. Their website includes a petition for those who want to support the Restart Act: www.:beanartshero.com/dear-senators
Alan Lewis is the photo editor of The Express. Follow him @alolewis1.
