FlashCue: A Research Initiative That Emerged from EpiArts

EpiArts Alliance convened early community conversations exploring a critical question:

When and how are flashing lights used in theatrical productions — and how can audiences with photosensitivity be better informed?

Those discussions brought together leaders in lighting design and photosensitivity research, including Tony Award–winning lighting designer Don Holder, vision scientist and author of Visual Stress Arnold Wilkins, lighting designer Barbara Samuels, researcher Laura South, accessibility advocate Paul Behrhorst, director Kristin Hanggi, and composer Ben Decter.

From these early EpiArts-hosted discussions, the FlashCue Project emerged as an initial research initiative.

FlashCue has since developed into an independent, research-based accessibility resource led by Nicole Hughes as Founding Contributor and Research Director. The project documents flashing-light cue data, advances photosensitivity education, and supports lighting designers, producers, venues, and audiences through research and professional training.

We are proud that FlashCue began within the EpiArts Alliance community and has grown into a standalone research initiative expanding its impact across the performing arts industry.