by Kirstie Topp Local Democracy Reporter
Venues across Scotland will be joining a nationwide call to action over job losses tonight by turning their lights red to symbolise the live events industry going into red alert.
The #LightItInRed event will be held at 9 o’clock to raise awareness of the entire live events supply chain and jobs at risk.
Venues in Scotland due to take part include Edinburgh Corn Exchange, Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh International Conference Centre and the Theatre Royal in Dumfries as well as The SSE Hydro, King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Barrowland Ballroom, Scottish Opera HQ,
Industry experts say the cancellation of Edinburgh’s five arts festivals is the biggest casualty for the events supply chain, and is threatening Scotland’s world-class reputation for events.
A number of buildings in Aberdeen will also take part including The Esslemont and Queen’s Cross Church.
The call to action hopes to raise awareness for over a million people in the industry who are at risk of losing their jobs in the next few weeks, of this number 72 per cent are self-employed freelancers.
Research also suggests that seven in ten businesses in the industry could run out of cash reserves in the next two months.
Organised by leading industry trade association PLASA, the call to action will see over seventeen trade bodies come together in solidarity, with the collaborative aim of saving the UK’s treasured live events industry.
The finale of the event will be taking place on London’s South Bank, where a boat will carry industry players along The Thames to see the city turn red.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency : funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
