The lighting and events industry is known for its creativity and artistic expression as well as its planning and analytical skills. As in many industries, there is still a male surplus. Women are still in the minority. But, in recent years, the industry has been tackling this disparity more forcefully. With the “Women in Lighting” initiative, also known as WIL for short, the women’s power of the lighting trade is now to be brought more into the limelight.The exhibition will once again be represented at this year’s Prolight + Sound and can be found in Hall 12.0.
“Women in Lighting” for the first time at Prolight + Sound 2023
Prolight + Sound, Europe’s leading trade fair for event and media technology, is already supporting the project for the second year. At Prolight + Sound 2023, there was a “Women in Lighting Lounge” with specialised programme items to ensure more attention is paid to the achievements of women in the industry, and impulses for more gender diversity are also to be set.
The “Women in Lighting Lounge” is located in Hall 12.0, close to the entertainment lighting partner of the “Women in Lighting” initiative, Ayrton. The lounge serves as a central meeting space for female professionals and interested newcomers, as a venue for interviews with inspiring personalities and as a source of information about career scenarios.
The event business is not a ‘Mens’ World’! Prolight + Sound, which is realised by women at various management levels, stands for this. It is a matter close to our hearts to provide a worthy stage for the merits and great careers of women in the industry. At the same time, we want to support the industry in inspiring the next generation of female talent for lighting and event technology. We are therefore extremely pleased to be working with Light Collective to promote the ‘Women in Lighting’ project.”
Mira Wölfel, Director Prolight + Sound.“It is a great honour for us to cooperate with Prolight + Sound, because the fair gives us a great opportunity to bring the project closer to the visitors in direct contact at one of the largest trade fairs for entertainment lighting. The Women in Lighting project is dedicated to raising the profile of women in the lighting sector and to give them visibility. We want to show that there are numerous attractive career paths for women who want to realise their potential in the entertainment sector. Prolight + Sound is an excellent platform”,
Sharon Stammers and Martin Lupton, Light Collective.
Full commitment to female talent
Women in Lighting is a global initiative that celebrates and profiles women in lighting and lighting design. Through social activism, it raises awareness of unconscious bias in the industry and combats it through a strong presence in the digital media. The project has now built a large following in digital media.
Women from over 75 countries now support the initiative worldwide, with the WIL Ambassadors being the driving force behind it. Stand-alone local initiatives are being established around the world and comprehensive projects are being worked on with partners.
After its foundation in 2019, Women in Lighting has developed into an international community that shares knowledge and experiences.
In addition to the information on the project provided on the website www.womeninlighting.com, an international conference is held annually on 8 March, International Women’s Day, at which awards are regularly presented to women in the industry.
Images: WIL, Aryton
