Following the postponement of Showlight 2021, Showlight announces that a one-day Virtual Showlight will be held in its place as a temporary interlude on Tuesday 25 May 2021 from 15.00 to 23.00 BST.
The date coincides with the final day of the original event and the time has been chosen to best accommodate USA and European delegates, the night owls further east, and (with apologies!) the sleepless in Australia and New Zealand!
Virtual Showlight will host an online presentation of papers, each up to 30 minutes in length, from international keynote speakers, plus a live Panel Discussion. Q&A sessions will follow each paper with delegates able to message their questions via the chairperson.
The remainder of the time will stay true to the spirit of Showlight with scheduled breaks between sessions providing opportunities for delegates, speakers and sponsors to network in ‘breakout rooms’ where they can spend the time mixing and mingling with others, both socially and within interest groups, in a virtual way.
Virtual Speakers Wanted!
Showlight is therefore issuing a fresh call for papers to anyone involved in lighting – be they lighting designers, lighting directors, directors of photography, architectural lighting designers or associated crafts like programmers and manufacturers to submit papers ideas suitable for presentation in the virtual conference on 25 May 2021. Full technical support will be given in advance, so don’t be daunted by the virtual platform!
Showlight aims for variety, across topics relevant to all aspects of the lighting industry today. The Committee wants to hear about your experiences, your ambitions, your inspirations, your concerns, your successes and your failures. They are not looking for simple product promotion.
Typical subjects might include:
– Innovative and interesting designs
– Unusual projects large or small
– Solving the impossible
– Your unique corner of the lighting world
– The future and the past – where should we be going and what should we have learnt
– Issues that are affecting our industry and how we work
Showlight is always on the look out for new speakers, so if you prefer to submit your ideas for the full Showlight event as soon as it returns, they are also happy to hear these – just specify on your submission if you are applying for Virtual Showlight or Full Showlight.
If you would like to become part of Virtual Showlight 2021 by presenting a paper, please send us the following at [email protected] with:
– Name(s)
– Company
– Mobile number
– Email address
– A brief summary of the paper you are proposing
– Is your proposal for Virtual Showlight or Full Showlight?
Please note: all papers will be considered by the Showlight Papers Committee, and if selected you will be contacted for further details, and with technical requirements and accommodation information. We look forward to receiving your exciting ideas.
Virtual Sponsors Wanted!
Sponsorship opportunities are available to facilitate this unique online event with the chance to host your own breakout room between papers sessions. Please email [email protected] for more details.
Showlight was grateful to those sponsors who have already signed up early in support of Virtual event: Robert Juliat as headline sponsor, ACT Lighting, Inc., Altman, Ayrton, ETC and Robe.
Tickets by voluntary donation
Tickets for Virtual Showlight will be issued on a first come, first served basis. Announcements will appear in the press and via the Showlight mailing list as soon as the ticket desk opens. In the current climate, Showlight has chosen not to charge for tickets but to leave it to the discretion of the delegates to add voluntary donations, with all proceeds going directly to selected industry charities, including Backup and Behind the Scenes.
Full Showlight will return!
Virtual Showlight has been planned as an enjoyable day to touch base with colleagues and celebrate the lighting industry. However, Showlight also confirms, Virtual Showlight is a temporary solution only, and the full Showlight event will return as soon as possible.
“While a virtual event cannot match the magic of the original gathering planned for Fontainebleau, we are determined to maintain the spirit of this unique colloquium until that happy time when we can gather together safely in person,” says Showlight Chairman, John Allen.
“Virtual Showlight is a temporary, yet ingenious and enjoyable, solution to the restrictions caused by the COVID pandemic which also gives us the opportunity to raise money for our industry charities. Be assured Showlight will return as a live event in its full and wonderful form once it is safe and practical to do so. Until then, we look forward to seeing you online on 25 May 2021.”
Don’t forget to sign up to the Showlight Mailing List (www.showlight.org), Facebook and Twitter pages to keep up to date with developments and be the first to hear when speakers are announced and tickets become available.
– The Showlight website
– The Facebook Showlight page
– Twitter Showlight
