Venues light up in red to urge Congress to pass Restart Act
Venues around Milwaukee and the world have been dark for six months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But Tuesday night, they were lit up in red.
Fiserv Forum, the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Skylight Theatre, the Miramar Theatre and Turner Hall Ballroom were among the Milwaukee venues that were illuminated in red Tuesday, part of a national #RedAlertRestart campaign, urging Congress to pass the Restart Act to help the struggling live events industry.
More than 1,000 venues and businesses across the country participated in the campaign, orchestrated by the North American division of the industry advocacy group #WeMakeEvents and the National Association of Music Merchants. Major acts like Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews Band also promoted the campaign on social media.
In Milwaukee, the campaign included an empty event that was set up in the entertainment district next to Fiserv Forum, orchestrated by more than 20 event businesses in the area. IATSE Local 18 Milwaukee also participated, while Saint Kate — The Arts Hotel, Hyatt Regency Milwaukee and even the Bronze Fonz were lit red in solidarity. Local live-event employees lit up their houses in red, as did local businesses like concert video production firm Mindpool Live and lighting and sound company Clearwing Productions.
“Our plight is dire at the moment because no event has happened since about the 16th of March,” Clearwing founder and chairman Gregg Brunclik said in a video statement, posted on the company’s Facebook page. “Since March, about 10 to 12 million people that support the arts have been unemployed.”
A key goal for the campaign is to push Congress to pass the Restart Act, a bipartisan bill that would finance six months’ worth of expenses for eligible businesses, allow up to 90% loan forgiveness and permit a seven-year payback schedule. Congress is on recess but set to come back into session this month.
The Restart Act is also endorsed by the National Independent Venue Association, co-founded by Pabst Theater Group CEO Gary Witt in April to lobby Congress for support. About 90% of NIVA’s 2,000-plus members reported in a survey their businesses would close this year without additional support.
Beyond the Restart Act, NIVA is endorsing two additional bipartisan bills: the Save Our Stages Act in the Senate, which would provide grant money to venues; and the ENCORES Act in the House (co-sponsored by Democratic Wisconsin Rep. Ron Kind), which would provide tax credit for refunded event tickets.