ALD launches fundraising drive to compensate lighting designers for work on industry campaign

The Association of Lighting Designers has launched a £35,000 fundraising drive to compensate freelances including Paule Constable, who put “their own careers on hold” to support the organisation’s Save Stage Lighting campaign.

Constable and fellow lighting designers Rob Halliday and Robbie Butler were instrumental in highlighting the threat posed by proposed European Union energy regulations, which would have seen the sale of most fixtures currently used in the industry banned from 2020.

According to the ALD, the volunteer trio “put their own careers and paid work on hold” in order to safeguard theatre lighting.

The crowdfunding campaign on online platform GoFundMe was launched following recognition of the work of Constable, Halliday and Butler at an annual Lighting Lunch event, where all three designers were presented with lifetime ALD memberships.

Money raised will go towards compensating the lighting designers for the work they put into the campaign, and will also provide a reserve to help educate and support others in the face of future challenges to theatre lighting.

ALD chair Johanna Town said: “These singular circumstances call for a singular solution. The entire lighting industry has benefited from the work of a very few tireless freelance lighting designers and practitioners.

“I feel a debt of gratitude not only as chair of the ALD, but as an individual affected by these ongoing proposals. I know others will feel the same way and give what they can.”

EU lighting proposals: Everything you need to know

What is the issue?

• The European Union is currently considering new regulations on the sale of lighting fixtures that would come into effect in 2020.
• The Ecodesign regulations would ban the sale of lighting fixtures that do not meet a set standard of energy efficiency (85lm/W).
• This is part of a drive to be more eco-friendly and reduce carbon emissions.
• However, most of the theatre lighting that is currently in use does not meet the new regulations.

For more information on the EU lighting proposals, click here.

EU lighting proposals: Everything you need to know