(USA) – A new non-profit organisation, the Business of Light, has been launched to create a new educational platform for shared knowledge and training, and to grow and strengthen the lighting industry.

With a goal to empower individuals through education and mentorship to grow and sustain lighting businesses, the organisation was formed in honour of long-time lighting design icons Barbara Horton and Stephen Lees. As well as designing award-winning lighting projects, Horton and Lees spent much of their time throughout their lighting careers focusing on the business of design and mentoring next generation leaders.

The Business of Light (BOL) has brought together a prominent team of lighting industry leaders to fulfil this vision, including: Chip Israel, Steven Rosen, Carrie Hawley, David Ghatan, Anna Sbokou, Katherine Stekr, Tom Warton and Maggie Giusto, alongside Stephen Lees and Barbara Horton.

Since forming, the BOL is in the process of developing a series of business focused educational workshops and webinars with professional consultants on various topics on a subscription basis. It has also launched an online survey, through which the organisation hopes participation will inform its programme for the business learning platform. The survey can be accessed here.

The BOL is also collaborating with the IALD, and will hold a “Leaders as Coaches” business workshop at IALD Enlighten Americas later this year.