Over 9000 Sites Lit Up Red for #NightofLight2020 posted: 27/06/2020 On 22nd June 2020, over 9000 buildings, monuments, cultural sites and spaces plus other objects were illuminated in Emergency Red by over 8300 participating companies - primarily in Germany - for #NightofLight2020
#NightofLight2020 was initiated and carefully planned by a team of lighting and AV professionals led by Tom Koperek from Essen-based event marketing agency LK AG to raise awareness of the critical economic plight of the live event industry in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.Moving light manufacturer Robe lighting enthusiastically supported via German subsidiary Robe DE which also assisted in supplying kit for some key locations from the current demo stock. In addition to the many installations already independently utilising Robe products, the company's HQ in Vala sk Mezi , Czech Republic, and the German office building in Munich were lit up in resplendent red to show solidarity.
It is estimated that the German events industry generates annual revenues of around 130 billion Euros and employs up to a million people - figures that dramatically increase to around 200 billion Euros with 3 million employees when including all the associated businesses.
The sector has effectively been shut down since March 10th, crowd gatherings have been banned, venues are closed, live performances are off the table, companies are shuttered, employees furloughed or laid off and hundreds of thousands of talented freelance technicians, creatives plus the entire event support infrastructure normally working in this thriving market sector is without work or business.
Olympia Tower
With large scale public events currently banned in Germany until 31st October, it is increasingly challenging for live event service industry companies and individuals to survive for such a long period without any cashflow.
Sustaining income losses of between 80 and 100% over 8 months cannot realistically be offset by many even with the potentially outstandingly successful and busy year that is being predicted in 2021.
#NightofLight2020 wanted to make this point loud and clear!
No matter how brave a face is put on it ... the outlook is tough!
Robe Deutschland was involved directly in supporting four installations - including the Hornisgrinde Tower, a 206 metre high radio mast in Baden-W rttemberg, part of the Rhine Valley located on the highest mountain in the Black Forest at an altitude of 1125 metres.
Among the multitude of lit buildings were significant monuments, like the Olympia Tower in Munich, an elegant 290 metre high modernist architectural masterpiece and observation / comms mast in the centre of Munich's Olympic Park area, which was lit up like a beacon with Robe fixtures supplied by Magic Event & Medientechnik GmbH and was visible all over the Bavarian city.
The thousands of participating companies in Germany were joined by colleagues in Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Belgium, The Netherlands and the UK including Clearsound Productions from Shipston-on-Stour (UK) which has led several UK-based lighting action events. On this occasion, they used four MegaPointes to light their warehouse red.
Olympia Tower
Among the multitude of lit buildings were significant monuments, like the Olympia Tower in Munich, an elegant 290 metre high modernist architectural masterpiece and observation / comms mast in the centre of Munich's Olympic Park area, which was lit up like a beacon with Robe fixtures supplied by Magic Event & Medientechnik GmbH and was visible all over the Bavarian city.
The thousands of participating companies in Germany were joined by colleagues in Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Belgium, The Netherlands and the UK including Clearsound Productions from Shipston-on-Stour (UK) which has led several UK-based lighting action events. On this occasion, they used four MegaPointes to light their warehouse red.
The top section of the tower was illuminated with the rest of the MegaPointes and ESPRITEs located on the viewing platform. The observation deck is approximately 190 metres high and the top of the Tower towers above at 291 metres. On a clear day, you can see to the Alps!
The LEDBeam 150s were first pointed outwards in red. Later on, together with the MegaPointes, they pulsed onto the underside of the platform beneath the top of the tower in blue and projected a light cone over the very top of the tower transforming an already stunning landmark into an even more impressive beacon of light.
Lighting control was via a grandMA2 light and a grandMA3 light and power came from local supplies on the ground and on the tower.
Everyone was delighted with the results, and Florian comments, We are all really hoping that politicians will take note and take sensible steps to help the event industry through this crisis.
Hornisgrinde Radio Mast
The temporary lighting design for the reinforced concrete tower - a network transmitter for S dwestrundfunk (SWR), the regional public broadcasting corporation serving the southwest of Germany - was created by Marcel Albrecht, their head of lighting.
He first chatted to colleagues from two companies Trendlight Showtechnic from Achern and Cassiopeia Event Technology from Renche, who were both very keen to join in, so Marcel together with Manuel Brommer and Martin Heuberger - MDs of the two companies - dealt with all the permissions.
The project was also fully supported by Frank Scherer from Stuttgart Regional Council and head of S dwestrundfunk.
The planning and lighting design were extensively tested and visualised in Depence 2 by Manuel before specifying the lighting fixtures and determining their optimum placement.
Twelve Robe BMFL Washes and eight Spiider wash beam moving lights were used, positioned at 180 degrees around the tower so their power and bright
