(rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By Sheldon Spackman

Supporting Performing Arts

Memorial Centre to be lit in red in support of live event industry

Sep 19, 2020 | 9:00 AM

One of Red Deer’s largest performing arts facilities will join hundreds of similar venues from across the country in highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on their industry.

On Sept. 22, the Red Deer Memorial Centre will be joined by the Red Deer College Arts Centre and Bo’s Bar and Stage in lighting up red for a Day of Visibility.

The nation-wide campaign aims to support Canadian live event workers who’ve lost their livelihoods due to the ongoing pandemic.

One hour after sundown from coast-to-coast, hundreds of venues and buildings will light their exteriors red to raise awareness for an industry that is largely still dark and likely one of the last industries to recover.

Darrel Dixon, Technical & Operations Manager for the Red Deer Memorial Centre, says they’re hoping the event raises awareness and garners support from the various levels of government to help them survive.

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“Our revenue from the shows and everything is down 99 per cent,” says Dixon. “We laid-off 75 per cent of our staff at first, which we only have four,” he points out. “So we laid-off three, but we’ve since hired one back just to do admin and help in taking care of the building.”

Dixon notes they’ve only had one event at the historic venue since the COVID-19 outbreak shut everything down in mid-March.

“It was a corporate-type meeting in July and not many people showed up. I think they were still nervous,” says Dixon. “No one is that interested in it just yet. They’re still doing the video meetings.”

Dixon admits that 2020 has been far less busy for them than what it usually is.

“Between September to June, we normally have an event in here every one, to one point two days,” he explains. “Some of that includes rehearsals, but this year in the Memorial Centre itself, we’ve probably had about 20. If we count CAT Studios (Central Alberts Theatre), then there’s something just about every day.”

Dixon notes a wide variety of jobs that rely heavily on places like the Red Deer Memorial Centre. He cites professions such as security, freelance audio, lighting, and video technicians, as well as labour to help with load-ins and load-outs.

“But indirectly, all of the visiting artists staying at hotels, transportation once they come to town, the restaurant industry,” he continues. “Even outside of that when they do tours, they’re booking through travel agents, the bussing, the tour managers, guitar techs. All of that.”

Dixon hopes that both citizens and governments recognize the contributions that performing arts venues bring to a community.

“They offer performing arts of all different kinds, from school plays, to dance recitals, comedy shows, variety shows, theatre itself, and then of course lots of different kinds of bands,” he exclaims.

Throughout the evening on Sept. 22, images and videos will be shared across social media, using the hashtags #LIGHTUPLIVE.

Other notable venues in Canada taking part include the CN Tower in Toronto, Calgary Tower and Niagara Falls.