Taking place this year on Tuesday 24 April on both sides of the Atlantic, By Design Day focuses attention on the various ways that individuals can support the two organisations that are dedicated solely to helping entertainment technology professionals in need.
Whether you prefer to make a personal donation, hold a collection at your place of work or, if you are a designer, simply support the day by voluntarily giving a day's royalties to one or both of these charities, it's the action (not the thought) that counts.
Light Relief is there for 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 2012 has the full backing of a host of award-winning designers, including Neil Austin, Ken Billington, Paule Constable, Wendall Harrington, Howard Harrison, Don Holder, David Korins, Scott Lehrer, 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 five 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 £40,000 in grants to help lighting professionals and their families, while Behind the Scenes has issued over $230,000 in grants to professionals working in all disciplines.
So - put Tuesday 24 April 2012 in your diary - and visit www.lightrelief.org.uk or www.estafoundation.org/bts.htm for more information!
(Jim Evans)
