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Spain - 22 live event and AV professionals are ready to cycle up to 390km from Valencia to ISE in Barcelona this weekend. Together as the BikeFest team, they are raising vital funds for industry charities Backup Tech, Music Support and Stagehand.
Organised by #WeMakeEvents, PLASA and AFIAL, BikeFest Spain is in its second year. Last year’s debut saw a team of 10 head toward the empty Fira de Barcelona exhibition centre, where ISE should have been taking place, poignantly showcasing the impacted live events sector.
However, this year’s BikeFest will head towards a thriv

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Creative Warning - Government complacency risks jeopardising the future of the creative industries, a report from the House of Lords has warned, as it called out an "indifference to the sector’s potential". The report from the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee follows an inquiry into the future challenges of the creative industries, which heard evidence from sectors including the performing arts, film, TV, gaming and music.
It warns of missed opportunities among senior government figures to recognise the sector’s commercial potential and makes a series of re
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USA - ESTA has announced approval of three standards by ANSI's Board of Standards Review.
ANSI E1.37-1 - 2012 (R2022), Additional Message Sets for ANSI E1.20 (RDM) -- Part 1 is part of the E1.37 project and provides additional get/set parameter messages (PIDs). Most of the messages in this document are intended for use with entertainment lighting dimming systems. These additional messages allow access to configuration parameters commonly found in many theatrical dimming systems.
ANSI ES1.18, Event Safety – Rigging, provides minimum requirements and gen

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Europe - In the next phase of Power Logistics’ ambitious plans for expansion, the temporary power specialist has appointed a European director to lead its newly opened office in Maastricht, Netherlands.
Experienced international sales and marketing professional, Patrick Elissen, will be spearheading the company’s EMEA operation from the centrally located office. Situated in close proximity to both the German and Belgian borders, the new office is just a short hop from many major European cities.
The news follows the company’s announcement in November that it had establ

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Flagship Opening - City Academy is to open a new arts complex in the former home of the Central School of Ballet, which it is describing as a "flagship" offering. Opening in the old heritage building in Clerkenwell, London, the site will contain a purpose-built black-box theatre – opening later this year – and classes that will run over the five storeys, with the first course having started already.
City Academy offers dance, acting and other creative courses. Its managing director Michael Ward said: “We are incredibly excited to be bringing this wonderful heritage building

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USA - Behind the Scenes is offering virtual training for mental health First Aid and Bystander intervention.
Says BTS, “Become a certified mental health First Aider in 2023 and make a real difference. Take an active role in helping to care for those you work with. Expand your skill sets by learning how to identify, understand and respond to signs of distress in your colleagues and help make our workplaces healthier and safer spaces for all. You will be able to use the information you learn every day in interactions with your co-workers as well as friends and family.”
Men

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Lights Dimmed - Many West End theatres dimmed their lights on the evening of 21 December, in support of Ukraine and the winter blackouts the country will face due to the ongoing war with Russia. 21 December is the darkest day of the year, with the shortest day and longest night of the year, and West End theatres, along with other London businesses and the Mayor of London, participated in the worldwide supportive act.
West End theatres have a tradition of dimming theatre lights before or during an evening performance to pay tribute to notable figures who have died, mark a m

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Italy - Sadly, we report the death of pro audio consultant and journalist Mike Clark, who passed away on 30 December at the age of 77.
Mike, Scottish by birth, arrived in Italy at the end of the sixties as a sound engineer for a band. He fell in love with the country and decided to live there.
He always worked in the field of music, first as a DJ in the leading discos of the Riviera, and then as a music expert in one of the largest shops in Italy, Dimar in Rimini.
A specialised journalist and correspondent for entertainment industry magazines including LSi, he also col

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World - The LSi and PLASA team are getting ready to down tools for the last time in 2022, but before we do, we’d like to thank you for your continued readership and support this year.
Our daily online news service will resume on Tuesday, 3 January 2023, but if you find yourself pining in the meantime, all 37 years’ worth of LSi’s back catalogue is accessible for free, HERE.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays - we hope the new year finds you happy, healthy, and thriving!
The LSi team

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Going Underground - Ukraine has chosen pop duo Tvorchi as its act for next year's Eurovision Song Contest in a live broadcast from a Kyiv bomb shelter. Tvorchi's entry Heart of Steel is the first song to be confirmed for the 2023 competition in Liverpool. Band member Andrew Hutsuliak said: "We will try to do everything to present Ukraine with dignity."
Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra won this year's contest, but the UK will host in 2023 because of the war. A metro station in Kyiv was transformed into a TV studio for Saturday's selection show. The underground stop has been in use

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UK - Scottish singer songwriter Gerry Cinnamon concluded his summer tour with two sell-out concerts at his home stadium, Hampden Park, in Glasgow, breaking records as he did so. Cinnamon was the first Scottish artist, and the first independent act to sell out the 50,000-capacity stadium - twice!
His long-term production and lighting designer, Pete Hutchison of Illumination Creative Design, knows all about Cinnamon’s determination to entertain every member of his audience and give each and every one of them an unforgettable experience, whichever part of the stadium they are seate

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Germany/Italy - ams Osram, a global leader in optical solutions, has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Claypaky entertainment lighting business to Germany based ARRI AG. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

Claypaky, established in 1976 and acquired by Osram in 2014, is headquartered in Seriate, Italy and is recognised as a leading brand in the professional high-end entertainment lighting market. The company has a strong reputation for its LED- and laser-based portfolio extensions, and offers an innovative, award-winning portfolio of mo

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Japan - Sony Group Corporation (Sony) has been included in the CDP’s A-List,*1 a distinction which recognises Sony as a leader in efforts to address climate change. This is the second year in a row, and the seventh time that Sony has made the A List in the climate change category.
Based on the recognition that its business success depends upon a healthy global environment, Sony has established Road to Zero, a long-term environmental plan to achieve a zero environmental footprint throughout the entire Sony Group by the year 2050 and is promoting activities from the four pe

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UK – Warwick Arts Centre, based at the University of Warwick’s Coventry campus, reopened in late 2021 after an extensive four year redevelopment, choosing APS configurable power distribution technology from LSC Control Systems at the heart of its new technical infrastructure.
One of the busiest cultural arts destinations in the Midlands, attracting over 300,000 visitors per year, the Warwick Arts Centre boasts an array of busy entertainment spaces. There are two theatres - a 575-seat main house and a 150-capacity black-box studio, a 1,450-capacity concert hall and three cinema

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Junior Eurovision - France has won this year's Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Yerevan, Armenia. Thirteen-year-old Lissandro won with 203 points for his song Oh Maman! beating hosts Armenia in second place, Georgia third, and Ireland fourth. The United Kingdom came fifth overall with 146 points - although it did win the public vote. The UK's entrant, Freya Skye, performed live after suffering with vocal issues during rehearsals.
Rising Stars - R&B vocal harmony group Flo have won the Brits rising star award. The London-based trio only released their de

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UK - Production Futures is an initiative created to provide opportunities for young people to learn, train, network, and develop real careers in production across every area of the live event, music, touring, theatre, TV, broadcast and film industries.
Having run a series of successful live events from its inception in 2016 to 2019, the organisation produced several equally popular online events during the pandemic, before returning in 2022 to forge new partnerships and deliver its nationwide On Tour programme.
Working with 47 brand partners and bringing to the table the wis

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Royal Engagement - Robbie Williams will headline the first large-scale live music event to be held at the Sandringham royal estate. The pop star will be joined by several special guests at the outdoor concert in Norfolk on 26 August. Giles Cooper, from Heritage Live, said: "It will be the most magical concert in the most amazing surroundings that'll live in our memories forever." While the royal estate has played host to a number of events, including the mile-long Luminate Sandringham outdoor trail this Christmas, the concert will be the first time it has held a live-music event

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UK - This year, the Association of British Theatre Technicians took the opportunity at its Members’ Christmas Party on Friday 2 December, generously supported by ETC and LW Theatres, to present honours to two of its members.
Howard Potts, recently retired technical director at Warwick Arts Centre, and Matthew Freeman, currently working as an associate project manager at TAIT, were both appointed Honorary Members of the Association.
At the start of the event Robin Townley, CEO of the ABTT, welcomed everyone gathered at the Gillian Lynne Theatre thanks to the generous hospi

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Canada - CAST has appointed Stuart Green as their new CEO. Green will succeed CAST’s founder and CEO, Gil Densham.
Densham, who has been CAST’s CEO for 28 years, is retiring, as well as moving to an advisory role within the company. “I am thrilled to become the new CEO of CAST and to oversee the exciting innovative progress we anticipate in the years to come,” says Green. “I, however, feel that this is the right time to express on behalf of all at CAST and within the community our sincere gratitude to Gil for his industry-changing contributions, being visionary, and his p

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PLASA recently hosted its AGM, complete with Christmas drinks and canapes, at the Victory Services Club in London on Wednesday 30 November, bringing members together from across the industry for a festive get-together.
Official proceedings began with PLASA Chair Adam Blaxill giving an overview of the association’s recent achievements and future plans, followed by Treasurer Mark Surtees for a recap of the figures detailed in the latest annual report.
The event continued to be lively and productive, with keynote talks from Richard Parry from the Department for International

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USA - Magmatic atmospheric effects is offering the first dedicated fog generator in its Magma series of dependable haze and fog machines. Now in stock and shipping is the Magma Fog 1500 IP, a durable, water-based fog machine with advanced technology and IP65 rating that provides a high output fog for professional applications of all types.
The Magma Fog 1500 IP is a tough, all-purpose fogger whose powerful output can be used to add atmosphere to stages in busy venues and demanding rental projects alike, indoors or out, says the company. A thermally-protected 1500W heat exchanger

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UK - UKCA is a new product marking that will soon be required for manufactured products placed on the market in Great Britain. The UKCA marking is intended to eventually replace CE marking and requires that certification of construction products, such as voice alarm control and indicating equipment, is performed by a ‘UK based approved body’.
Baldwin Boxall confirms that all VIGIL2 and VIGIL3 voice alarm products and systems are certified to UKCA and the certificate is available to view on the company’s website (baldwinboxall.co.uk/ukca-certificate-for-vigil2-vigil3-voice-al

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UK - Birmingham-based event services partner Taylex Group has unveiled its new look to mark significant post-pandemic growth and expansion of its event and exhibition services.
During 15 years of continued expansion, Taylex Group’s team has been synonymous with the delivery of exhibitions and event builds for the likes of Kawasaki, Raleigh, Commonwealth Games 2022 and BST in Hyde Park. Following post-COVID reflection, the business is now primed to enter 2023 with an evolved, expanded range of services and solutions.
The all-new Taylex Group offers full in-house CAD and tec

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Germany - Kramer has announced its distribution partnership in Germany with Exertis Pro AV, headquartered in Uhingen.
With this new partnership, Exertis Pro AV will be able to market Kramer's entire portfolio while delivering the most intuitive audio-visual experiences through its wide network of resellers, integrators, planners and architects in Germany. Customers will now have access to a dedicated team offering reliable support that drives the business forward.
Marc Issan, global VP sales at Kramer, said: "Partnering with a distributor as credible and professional as Exe
  1. BikeFest Spain gears up for ISE 2023
  2. Meyer steps down at Stageco, Willems succeeds
  3. BeWunder spin-off takes over N&M ME operations
  4. BTS promotes mental health resources at LDI 2022
  5. The Week in Light & Sound
  6. Bandit’s Strickland calls for unified approach
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