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Showlight 2022 Postponed
Julie Harper • Jul 27, 2021
Showlight 2022 Postponed
In view of the ongoing COVID-19 situation worldwide, it is with regret that Showlight has decided to further postpone the popular lighting quadrennial in its traditional form. Showlight chairman, John Allen, explains the reasons behind the decision:
A Letter from the Chairman
The Showlight committee has been reviewing the current state of our industry and the effects of the Covid pandemic on employment in many of our theatres, conference centres, touring venues, and within our manufacturing and servicing companies. We have also considered the difficulties and unpredictability of travel bans, quarantining and the effect of Brexit, and none of our conclusions are encouraging.
As a result, we have reluctantly decided that a traditional Showlight in 2022 at Fontainebleau is not viable in any form so a further postponement will be necessary, and we will reconsider our options for Showlight 2023 next Spring, ideally to take place in Fontainebleau as previously planned.
Our main considerations when reaching this decision revolve around a number of major concerns. Showlight delegates come from many branches of our industry and we fully appreciate that those who are freelancers or part of teams within performance spaces may not be able to spare the time or even afford to attend if they are finally back in any kind of regular employment after long periods of inactivity.
Others who work in studios and on film sets or in servicing and supply may also find that they cannot be spared from work places if the industry is beginning to show signs of new growth. Our sponsors and exhibitors too, on whom we rely for financial support, may also be finding times tough and in need of a period of revival before being able to actively take part again in a live Showlight.
Added to all this, the Showlight committee, who are mainly based in the UK, although there are also members in the US, France and Germany, need to plan all aspects of the event and onsite meetings and visits to the locality are necessary. It is hoped that the requirements for quarantining will be lifted soon, but current restrictions on travel, new visa requirements and simply planning catering and the social side of Showlight with local companies, who are also experiencing problems of Covid, simply add to the difficulties of organisation.
Showlight will return again in all its glory just as soon as possible but until Covid can be controlled and we are back to a better time for the lighting industry, we have to wait in the wings.
John Allen, Chairman
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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.
