Charity
All proceeds from exhibitions and sales of fine art prints and books benefit foundations such as “Behind the Scenes”, “Backup–The Technical Entertainment Charity” and #handforahand.
Behind the Scenes is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to event technicians (or their surviving dependents) when they or an immediate family member become seriously ill or injured. The foundation was created so that entertainment technology professionals can support each other during the crisis. The model is simple: individuals and organizations in the events industry give money to the charity, and Behind the Scenes provides grants to help colleagues in emergency situations.
Since 2006, Behind the Scenes has been supporting professionals in North America, where the organization has already spent more than half a million dollars in grants. In 2014, the foundation was able to expand its work to Great Britain and is also planning collaborations in Germany and other countries. Behind the Scenes brings help and hope in times of great need.
Anyone in event technology who lives and works primarily in the UK, US or Canada, and who has worked in the events industry for a minimum of five years, can apply for emergency support—for themselves or family members, including spouses, common-law partners and dependent children.
The way in which the grants are used depends on the situation of each individual; for example, they pay living expenses such as rent and mortgage or the cost of electricity and water, and they also include medicine, transportation, retraining, and funeral expenses.
Do you know someone in the industry who can’t pay the rent because he or she can no longer do the job due to an injury? Or maybe you know someone who suffers from cancer and can’t work at the moment because of treatment? Do you know relatives who are unable to provide for themselves and their families?
These are the people that Behind the Scenes is trying to help.
Backup – The Technical Entertainment Charity – provides financial support to industry technical professionals working in live events, theatre, TV and film.
Whether it is an industry professional, or their family member who is seriously ill or suffering from an accident and needing support.
Backup works with potential recipients to fully understand the support needed and ensure that help is targeted effectively.
Grants are tailored to an individual’s needs and can include essential living costs, medical related expenses, advice, re-training and travel.
Backup will stay in contact with recipients and provide ongoing support.
Backup – we help people get back on their feet
Due to the Corona pandemic, several hundred thousand events have been cancelled throughout Germany so far. As a result, freelancers, solo self-employed and micro-enterprises in the cultural sector have had to cope with massive losses of revenue. To cushion the existential consequences, the federal, state and local governments have launched emergency aid programs worth billions.
Unfortunately, these measures do not reach all of the freelancers working in the cultural sector whose livelihoods are threatened. Countless freelancers fall through the cracks and, through no fault of their own, will have to rely on basic welfare benefits (Hartz IV).
Freelance stage and sound technicians, lighting technicians, stage hands and event assistants are among the hardest hit and at the same time an indispensable part of our cultural infrastructure. They need fast, unbureaucratic support and solidarity.