6 million candles light up 400 U.K. out-of-home sites to remember lives lost in the Holocaust

Five outdoor companies donated space for Saturday’s vigil, crafted by St. Luke’s for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust

Published On
Jan 29, 2024
Candles burning on the famous Picadilly Lights billboard in London

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Agency St. Luke’s organized a beautiful vigil on Saturday night in the U.K. to remember victims of the Holocaust—lighting 6 million digital candles, one for each life lost in the genocide, on 400 out-of-home advertising sites around the country.

The sites included Birmingham New Street, Liverpool Towers, Manchester Arndale, the Edinburgh Arch, London train stations and a complete takeover of London’s Piccadilly Lights. CGI artist Richard Green created the images of thousands of candles.

Outdoor companies Global, Clear Channel, National Rail, Ocean Outdoor and JCDecaux donated the space for the 10-minute vigil, which began at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Lit candles on the Edinburgh Arch billboard space

The candlelight vigil was held as part of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust’s annual “Light the Darkness” national moment, when famous British buildings and landmarks are lit up purple.

The activation comes at a critical time of rising antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred around the world.

“It is more important than ever that we come together to create a world free from identity-based persecution,” said Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE, CEO of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. “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.”

 

“It’s hard to grasp the sheer enormity of the 6 million lives lost in the Holocaust,” said Ed Palmer, managing director at St Luke’s. “By seeing 6 million virtual candles light up across hundreds of poster sites around the U.K., one for each life lost, it puts these atrocities in a new light. We hope this ‘digital vigil’ will play its part in commemorating the Holocaust and other genocides around the world, offering a message of hope.”

Credits

Date
Jan 29, 2024
Client :
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
Agency :
St. Luke's
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
Joint Chief Creative Officer :
Richard Denney
Creative Team :
Darren Keff
Creative Team :
Phillip Meyler
Head of Art & Design :
Pete Mould
Creative Producer :
Bally Mahay
Creative Producer :
Georgie Moran
Creative Producer :
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

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