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A major production took place in Fort William and the surrounding area on Friday October 16, with everyone’s favourite mountain taking the starring role.
Led by Miriam Wolanski, Owner of Wolanski’s Pole and Aerial Fitness, members of protest group #Resurrect Live Events scaled both Ben Nevis and Càrn Mòr Dearg to put on an amazing show of colour in support of the people and businesses affected by the shut down of the live events industry.
While Nevis was lit up in the blue of Scotland technicians on the ground gave Cameron Square a technicolour make-over to add to the overall excitement of the evening in Fort William.
‘We are representing live events and all of those people and businesses who are affected in the supply chain,’ said Miriam.
‘We are also here in solidarity for everyone who has been affected by Covid-19 – from tourism, hospitality, festivals and beyond.
‘The artists, technicians and everyone who work so hard behind the scenes to help create Scotland’s diverse arts culture.
‘We would also like to directly appeal to members of the public and our audiences to stand with us and help bring our industry back. We can work safely with the guidelines being issued, but many companies and venues are now closing since they were the first groups out of work and therefore the last to come back.
‘Many feel they have been forgotten about or that what they do is deemed now non-viable by our government.’
The sector is worth more than one billion to the UK economy and the #Resurrect Live Events group along with others have been ‘holding up a beacon’ in various locations over Scotland over the last few months to stand in solidarity with all of those affected on a global scale.
‘We can get back to work safely, we just need the opportunity and the support to do it,’ added Miriam, an aerialist/circus artist, production manager and live events coordinator.
‘We need to get Scotland’s live events heart beating once more.’
The lighting of the Nevis range was a production feet in itself. At Ben Nevis’ 1,345m summit blue beams were cat to represent Scotland and then switched to multi colours to light up the cairn. Miriam was joined by Mariusz Przybylski, Kieran Ferguson, Gabriel Stella, Adilso Machado and Paul McIvor on the summit while Martin Forry climbed Càrn Mòr Dearg to photograph their work.
On the ground Martin Whyte, Ross Mckillop, Rory K and crew lit the new cinema and square in all the colours. Steve Woods took care of the drone footage while Gerry Clark completed the ground and photography crew.
