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Showlight to return in 2023
Julie Harper • Jan 24, 2022
Showlight to return in 2023
Showlight is excited to announce that plans are underway to reinstate Showlight 2023 which, after a two-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is now scheduled to take place between 20-23 May 2023. The venue for this much-loved lighting quadrennial will be the Théâtre Municipal in Fontainebleau, near Paris, France, the original destination for the postponed 2021 event.
“The Showlight committee is now planning for the next live Showlight in May 2023 and we hope this time nothing will de-rail it!” says Showlight chairman, John Allen. “We are delighted to have the continued support of our main sponsor, Robert Juliat, along with many of the sponsors who were already supporting Showlight 2021. Fontainebleau’s local administration has, once again, made the Théâtre Municipal available for us - right in the centre of the town - and, as a result, the arrangements we were originally making for 2021 can be dusted off and planning can recommence.
“The Welcome Reception is planned for Saturday 20 May, with the first full day of papers on Sunday 21 May 2023. More programme details will be released in due course and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Showlight next year.”
With this in mind, and less than 18 months to go, Showlight will soon be putting out a Call for Papers, Exhibitors and Sponsors for this unique networking event. If you want to share your exciting lighting or terrific technology, contact us at papers@showlight.org. If you want to become part of the welcome return of this top networking event as a sponsor or exhibitor, contact John Allen at chairman@showlight.org
“I had such a terrific time, I’m still talking about it. I was so inspired and motivated by the speakers that I have a renewed energy for my work and trying new things. I met so many new people and learned so much about different people’s work, it has been invaluable.”
James Simpson, lighting designer and visualiser at Copper Candle, Showlight 2017 speaker – and now, Vice Chair of the Papers Committee!
If you’ve never attended a Showlight before, or you’ve simply missed mixing with your peers, Showlight 2023 is your opportunity to mingle, and learn, with lighting practitioners from all disciplines and many countries, across three enjoyable days of networking, social visits, eclectic papers and an exhibition.
“Showlight packs a full programme into three days which gives the opportunity to dive deep into the world of light and to meet lots of new people outside of your normal comfort zone.”
Isabel Nielen, lighting designer and artist, and Showlight 2017 speaker.
Put the date in your diary (20-23 May 2023), visit the Showlight website (www.showlight.org) for more details, and sign up to the Mailing List to keep abreast of all new developments.
“Showlight is so interesting because of the access it gives to everybody. Students can talk directly to top lighting designers, lighting designers have lots of time to interact with manufacturers, etc. It’s first and foremost an excellent networking event.”
Ellen Lampert-Greaux, Live Design, Showlight 2017 delegate
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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.
