Headline Sponsor Media Partner
Showlight – A Unique Event in the Lighting Calendar
Julie Harper • Aug 16, 2019
Showlight is a unique colloquium held every four years in a different location.
Showlight is a unique colloquium that is held every four years in a different location. Showlight 2021 will take place between 22-25 May 2021 in beautiful Fontainebleau, near Paris, France at the town’s picturesque Théâtre Municipal.
Showlight’s main focus is its eclectic Papers Schedule which aims to be both fun and informative. A strong emphasis is also placed on networking amongst those who love lighting in all its forms. It is one of the few international events organised specifically for lighting professionals by lighting professionals across the performance, television, film, architectural and event worlds. All of the organisers give their time freely and voluntarily to ensure an event that delivers a unique opportunity for lighting people of all disciplines and levels of expertise to mix and exchange ideas and stories.
The general format is that everybody arrives in Fontainebleau on the Saturday evening and gathers for drinks at a welcome evening. The next morning starts bright and early on the Sunday as the conference begins, with speakers presenting 20-minute papers in groups of three, followed by a Q&A session at the end of each session. There is often a Panel Session which takes a closer look at the roles lighting practitioners play within our industry, or discusses pertinent topics in more depth.
Coffee, tea and lunch breaks are scheduled throughout the day, during which time, delegates can explore the exhibition and talk to the manufacturers who have stands there. The exhibition is an invaluable part of Showlight with around 40 exhibitors lending their support to the event and benefiting from unrivalled access to designers, established and fledgling, and a whole raft of other industry professionals, in a relaxed and unpressured environment. All stands are the same size shell scheme so everyone is on an even footing, regardless of the size of the company! And, uniquely, the exhibition closes while the papers are being given, so the exhibitors can also listen to and enjoy the presentations.
Each of the exhibitors sponsors a lighting student for the duration of the show, who helps on the stand and, most importantly, has the opportunity to network with industry professionals. Most exhibitors also host company dinners on the Sunday evening so every Showlight delegate that chooses to partake will be taken to one of Fontainebleau’s many excellent restaurants in good company!
The conference continues on Monday morning, while the afternoon is given over to visits to places of local interest. Delegates can choose which trips to go on (they are allocated on a first come, first served basis!) and a full list of these visits will be announced closer to the date.
The day ends with the legendary Conference Dinner – which is held in a secret location which will not be disclosed until the day!
The final day, Tuesday, sees another full day of papers presentations before everybody departs (or spends a few extra days in Fontainebleau if they choose!) in the evening.
Finally, Showlight is a not-for-profit event organised entirely by volunteers, and we wouldn’t be able to do it without the support of our sponsors. This year’s Headline Sponsor is Robert Juliat, with other sponsors as follows: Platinum Sponsor Ayrton, Gold sponsors Eyetidy and SFL Group, Silver sponsors White Light, and Bronze sponsor PRG, alongside media supporters, LSI.
For more information about Showlight visit the newly launched website www.showlight.org
to sign up for our new mailing list and follow us on social media.
Website: www.showlight.org
Facebook: /showlightevent
Twitter: @Showlight2021
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Showlight is delighted to announce that it is back and will return soon! Following the enforced postponement of Showlight 2023 and a bumpy ride during the pandemic, the committee has reassembled, invigorated and forging forward to the next in the series of this unique industry-favourite networking event. The Showlight committee is currently exploring new locations and actively seeking sponsorship for the next Showlight, the date and location of which will be confirmed in the new year. Many experienced committee members are joined by a flush of new members in organising what promises to be one of the most exciting issues of this unique quadrennial to date. Incoming Showlight Chairman, Jim Tetlow, who has moved from his previous position as Papers Chairman, says “We are truly excited that Showlight is back with such energy and cannot wait to bring our delegates a fantastic programme of papers and networking opportunities. This has been a much loved event since 1981 and there will be many in the industry who are very happy to hear that we will return!” “We would like to take this opportunity to thank the recently retired members of the committee for their years of hard work and dedicated service.” Retiring committee members are John Allen (Chairman), Mark White (Finance Director), Petra Sefton (Catering & Food), Rob Dyer (Student Coordinator), Ed Jackson (Exhibition Coordinator) and Rudiger Benz (Techinical Support/Stage Manager). “The spirit of Showlight has been kept truly alive by their work and we are excited to carry it forward to the next event. We have been joined by several new committee members, namely Simon Barrett, Alan Luxford and Peter Marshall, and are still looking for new members to fill the roles left vacant by our outgoing committee members.” To get involved with the organisation of Showlight as a sponsor or in any other capacity, contact Jim Tetlow on chairman@showlight.org More information can be found on the Showlight website at www.showlight.org where you can also sign up to the Mailing List to be the first to hear all the news as it breaks!
It is with great sadness that the Showlight Committee announces the postponement of Showlight 2023. The popular quadrennial networking event was due to take place in Fontainebleau, France from 20th – 23rd May 2023. In a statement from Showlight, Chairman John Allen explains the reasons behind this decision: “It is after lengthy consideration and with much deliberation that we have decided to postpone Showlight 2023. The plans and preparations for Showlight in Fontainebleau have been underway since 2018 and although the Covid lockdown took two years out of our work, it was always our intention to hold Showlight in 2023 following the lifting of Covid restrictions. Fontainebleau is a beautiful town with an intimate theatre and a wonderful chateau as well and it is an ideal place for our quadrennial event. Plans progressed with this aim in mind. However, developments over recent weeks have raised concerns about the viability of holding Showlight next year. The major problem is that of costs for the event which have risen considerably at a time when inflation in the UK and across Europe is rising. When we first budgeted for Showlight in Fontainebleau, in 2018, the future looked good, but the combination of Covid, the current political and economic state in Europe, and more recently, uncertain final costs for the event, have put Showlight in severe jeopardy of failure, both with the standard of our unique event and also in its cost. As a result, the directors of Showlight Ltd have decided that we need to postpone next May’s event. I know that this will come as a shock to many, I am also very disappointed and quite despondent that we have had to reach this decision but there is no alternative at present. I would like to thank all those who have wholeheartedly supported us in our work so far and the delegates who so faithfully return to Showlight on each occasion. In the early part of 2023 we will be holding a committee meeting to determine where Showlight goes from here and will keep you updated with all future plans. Thank you for your support and understanding.”
Showlight reminds you that there is still time to submit your suggestions for Papers for the Showlight quadrennial next May. Showlight takes place from 20-23 May 2023 in Fontainebleau, France, and our Papers Committee is still in the process of considering and selecting topics for the famed Papers Programme. We are looking for the latest news on lighting projects and technology. Have you worked on an incredible installation or a fantastic festival this summer? Has your project achieved its peak? Did your event engage the latest technology? Did your broadcast bowl its audience over? We want to hear from you! We aim for variety across topics relevant to all aspects of the lighting industry today. We want to hear about your experiences, your ambitions, your inspirations, your concerns, your successes and failures. We are not looking for simple product promotion. Please send a brief summary of the Paper you are proposing, along with a description of the visuals available to papers@showlight.org You have until 30 November to submit your ideas for consideration. This will allow the Showlight Papers Committee to finalise the programme in good time. 2023 will be the first return of Showlight in 6 years after the enforced postponement due to the pandemic, and it promises to be an exceptional event. Become part of this latest gathering as a speaker, a sponsor or exhibitor, or by attending as a student or delegate. Whichever way you choose, it’s going to be too good to miss! Ticket sales are due to open in October . Watch the press for further updates or join our Mailing List to be the first to hear. Want to become an Exhibitor or Sponsor? If you want to be part of the welcome return of this top networking event as a sponsor or exhibitor, contact John Allen at sponsorship@showlight.org Join our Mailing List Sign up to the Showlight Mailing List to keep abreast of all new developments as they happen.
