One of the main fundraising events for these charities, By Design Day focuses attention on the various ways that individuals can support these two organisations which are dedicated solely to assisting entertainment technology professionals in need. Fundraising can be a personal donation or through an organised collection. Many designers support the day by voluntarily giving a day's royalties to one or both of these charities. Light Relief assists those involved in the UK lighting industry while Behind the Scenes aids professionals based in the US and Canada working in any area of the entertainment technology industry.
By Design Day 2013 has the full backing of a host of award-winning designers across a broad range of disciplines, including Neil Austin, Gregg Barnes, Ken Billington, Paule Constable, Wendall Harrington, Howard Harrison, Don Holder, David Korins, Derek McLane, Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen, Ken Posner, Jennifer Tipton and Hugh Vanstone, along with Light Relief's co-founder, Rick Fisher.
Light Relief Day was first organised in the UK six years ago to honour the memory of the charity's founder Tony Gottelier and quickly gained support. Two years later the US and Canada joined in, to raise funds for Behind the Scenes. Now By Design Day is supported internationally with donations from designers with productions all over the world. To date Light Relief has awarded more than £50,000 in grants to help lighting professionals and their families, while Behind the Scenes has issued over $325,000 in grants to professionals working in all disciplines.
So - put Wednesday 24 April 2013 in your diary - and visit www.lightrelief.org.uk or www.estafoundation.org/bts.htm for more information in due course!
(Jim Evans)
