Holocaust Memorial Day Trust lights 6 million candles across the nation

Iconic outdoor advertising sites across the UK lit up to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on Saturday 27th January, in an initiative devised by creative agency St Luke’s for its client, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

It saw 400 out-of-home sites simultaneously show thousands of candles being lit, with a nationwide total of 6 million candles appearing, representing the 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. The lit candles were displayed for a 10-minute vigil, which everyone was invited to join, either in person or online.

The sites included Birmingham New Street, Liverpool Towers, Manchester Arndale, the Edinburgh Arch, major London train stations – and a complete takeover of London’s Piccadilly Lights. All the ad space had been donated by Global, Clear Channel, National Rail, Ocean Outdoors and JCDecaux. St Luke’s work for the Trust is also pro bono.

The candle vigil formed part of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust’s annual “Light the Darkness” national moment, which sees famous British buildings and landmarks lit up purple each year.

Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE, CEO of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said: “At 8pm, people across the UK will light a candle in their homes while iconic landmarks light up purple in a powerful moment of collective remembrance of those murdered for who they were. The theme of this year’s commemorations, the Fragility of Freedom, presents an opportunity to reflect on the freedoms that we hold dear, and ways that we can challenge prejudice today. In the face of rising antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, it is more important than ever that we come together to create a world free from identity-based persecution. We are immensely grateful to every landmark that is taking part, as well as our partners at St Luke’s, Global, Clear Channel, National Rail, Ocean Outdoor and JCDecaux, for encouraging people to light the darkness.”

Rich Denney, joint chief creative Officer at St Luke’s, said: “The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust has worked tirelessly over the last 23 years to shine a light on the darkness of genocide. We are proud to play our part alongside our incredible media partners in commemorating the six million lives lost in the Jewish Holocaust, in this touching and important digital vigil.”

St Luke’s worked with renowned CGI artist Richard Green to create the images of thousands of candles. The agency also created a 90-second social film ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day, explaining why it is such an important event.

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place internationally every year on January 27, to remember the 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of people murdered under Nazi persecution of other groups and during more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust promotes and supports the day, and has been supported in recent years by luminaries including Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley and Judge Robert Rinder.

Credits

Brand/Advertiser: Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
Head of Communications: Esther Selman
Senior Digital Communications Officer: Bethan Tribe
Senior Communications Officer: Farayi Mungazi
Chief Executive Officer: Olivia Marks-Woldman
Deputy Chief Executive: Rachel Century
Creative agency: St Luke’s
Joint Chief Creative Officer: Richard Denney
Creative Team: Darren Keff & Phillip Meyler
Head of Art & Design: Pete Mould
Creative Producer: Bally Mahay, Georgie Moran, Roy Hyndman
Senior Designer: Jon Hubbard
Artworker: Anna Leapman
Managing Director: Ed Palmer
Account Director: Naomi Hollowday
Senior Strategist: Joanna Barnett
CGI Artist: Richard Green
Editor: Alex Leggatt
Producer: Chloe London
Music: Soundtree Music
Composer: Peter Raeburn