About the project
The first HKU Festival - Where are you now
The "Where Are You Now" festival was conceived as a vibrant celebration to welcome new students to HKU and to bid farewell to alumni. The event aimed to create an unforgettable experience by showcasing modern art, interactive installations, and audiovisual performances.
Role
Initiator and Project Manager
Client
University of the Arts Utrecht (HKU)
Date
september 2019
![Intro Image for undefined](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/yvhr0v84/production/7449c026ff36b64fad41ff9b54634b3c1d618252-1358x1243.webp?rect=0,325,1358,591&w=1240&h=540)
The "Where Are You Now" festival was conceived as a vibrant celebration to welcome new students to HKU and to bid farewell to alumni. The event aimed to create an unforgettable experience by showcasing modern art, interactive installations, and audiovisual performances.
As the initiator and project manager, I led a diverse team of talented students from various disciplines within HKU. Our goal was to design an immersive event that would resonate with both new and departing students, leaving a lasting impression.
Key Features
- Hexadome Installation: The centerpiece of the festival, featuring a surround sound setup with 6 speakers to create an immersive audio experience.
- Interactive Installations: Designed to engage visitors and inspire them with modern art and interactivity.
- Audiovisual Performances: Including performances by 12 artists and 2 bands, spanning over 3 stages.
- Boat Stage: A refurbished boat that was once used for prostitution, transformed into a disco with vibrant music and lighting.
- Yard Stage: Overlooking the inner yard, featuring a large fire where attendees danced around, creating a warm and engaging atmosphere.
- Main Stage Inside De Nijverheid: Equipped with big speakers, extensive lighting, and the primary speaker setup, providing an electrifying experience.
- Networking Opportunities: The event facilitated connections both within and outside the HKU community, fostering a broad network and collaboration opportunities.
- Marketing and Promotion: Utilized HKU’s network, flyers, posters, and invitations during the introduction week to attract attendees.
Learnings
- Time Management: I learned the importance of discarding tasks that were consuming too much time and not adding significant value.
- Outsourcing and Delegation: Successfully outsourced specific tasks and delegated responsibilities within the team, enhancing efficiency.
- Visitor Engagement: Actively connected with visitors during the event to gather feedback and improve future projects.
Impact
The festival was highly praised by attendees and the HKU community. Even years later, students still shared stories about the memorable evening, highlighting the success and lasting impact of the event.
The experience not only showcased my ability to manage a large-scale event but also underscored the importance of collaboration, creativity, and effective project management in delivering an outstanding festival.
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This project was a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and the impact of creative event planning. It remains a proud highlight of my career, demonstrating my capability to lead, innovate, and inspire through immersive and interactive experiences.