NATIONAL HELLENIC MUSEUM GALA 2019

For the National Hellenic Museum 2019’s gala, “Projecting Into the Future,” the NHM moved to a new event space — The Gerhaughty. It was a change from the traditional banquet hall, and we wanted it to stand out in a sea of galas. I was tapped to create and produce the creative strategy for the event. 

In addition to making this evening unique, I wanted to bring the museum experience to the gala. People come to the NHM gala because they love and support the museum. So I wanted to make gala feel like the very best of the NHM and create an experiential environment where stories of the Greek American experience came alive all around them. No matter where the guest was — at the bar, seated at a table, hitting the dance floor — I wanted them to feel their history, the NHM’s history, and be excited to be part of the future of the institution. 

My goal was the create an experiential atmosphere that would evoke nostalgia and excitement in guests and encourage their philanthropic giving. I decided to hang large photographs printed on foam core from the ceiling and also applied them on the cocktail bars. I selected images people would relate to and would tug at their heartstrings. These photos were chosen from the NHM Collections & Archives to picture the diversity of the Greek-American experience.

Additionally, photo loops played on four screens surrounding ballroom: two projectors played on screens on either side of the stage and two LED panel walls played in the two back corners. This meant that no matter where a guest sat in the ballroom, a screen would be visible to them. Each screen started at a different point in the photo loop to create a dynamic feeling. 

I worked with the NHM’s contract videographer to create two loops: a “Nostalgia” loop played when the ballroom was revealed after cocktail hour and guests found their seats for dinner — their own experiences pictured all around them. This loop took advantage of a “Ken Burns” style documentary effect. Later, a “Party” loop played during the dessert and dancing portion of the evening — images of Greek Americans dancing, drinking, eating, and celebrating reflected the lively vibe in the room. This loop played at a faster clip to match the mood.