Performance venues, artists, and countless others who work in the entertainment industry have been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Live performances have been completely halted and stages across the U.S. have gone dark. Because our business is rooted in large group gatherings, we were one of the first industries to be completely shut down (early March) and will be one of the last to return (with national tours perhaps not until 2021), let alone restore former prosperity (likely not until 2022).
The live event industry in North America directly employs more than 12 million people and includes hundreds of thousands of businesses with a combined economic impact of over $1 trillion USD. This likely includes someone you know, are close to, or it may even include you. If we do not receive government assistance, the live events industry will literally collapse, including all of the people involved. The RESTART Act is a bill that is currently moving through congress, but has stalled. Venues across the country are organizing a widespread PR event by lighting up as many buildings in RED as possible and posting pictures and videos to social media and news outlets, in hopes that this will help push the bill through.
On Tuesday, September 1, 2020 from 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM, the Washington Center will light up our downtown venue in RED and will be posting pictures on social media in hopes that this nationwide effort will help push the bill through. The performing arts industry needs appropriate relief funding and necessary legislation.
Drive by our building on September 1 after 9:00 PM and take a picture of the Washington Center lit up in RED. Our community can help spread awareness by posting pictures on social media with the following hashtags: #WeMakeEvents, #RedAlertRESTART