51 Case study
Photos : Matt Chung
Why did you choose the Science Museum ? The Science Museum provides some amazing and interesting spaces in which to stage an event , and the museum is particularly pertinent to the type of event we were organising i . e ., a Future Tech Forum . Also , the galleries provided airy and well-ventilated spaces for our delegates .
How did you choose which spaces you wanted to use ? We chose Level 5 of Illuminate as our plenary space due to it being purpose-built for this type of event , and chose Flight for catering due to its size and available space . We selected Information Age as one of our breakout spaces due to its gallery content being pertinent to our forum discussions , whilst the Smith Centre was used as a gathering space for ministers and for the most important bilateral meetings .
What were the benefits of using Illuminate for your main plenary ? Illuminate was ideal for our main plenary as we were able to set the space up while the museum was closed ; it ’ s an adaptable space . The standout feature of Illuminate was the views across London .
Who were your catering and AV partners ? We used the Science Museum ’ s in-house catering and AV partners – Moving Venue and White Light – as well as our production company , Identity . The virtual production set up was bespoke .
What catering was provided at the event ? Moving Venue provided menus designed both with current British and International food trends . as well as ingredient seasonality being at the forefront . Sustainability , including provenance and carbon footprint , was also an important consideration .
For the breakfast bowls and break snacks , Moving Venue created ‘ brain food ’ dishes that focused on healthy and wholesome ingredients such as low-fat Dorset yoghurt , fresh autumnal British fruits and slow-releasing jumbo oats from Somerset . For those needing heartier items , sautéed mushrooms from Essex on truffle toast with spinach and the ever-popular bacon sandwiches , using meat from the south coast , were also provided .
The lunches featured internationally inspired dishes such as buttermilk chicken with muhammara sauce , ratatouilles and a vegan sweet potato and lentil dahl , rounded off by delicious British desserts including Blackberry cheesecake with olive oil shortbread and Blood orange trifle .
Showcasing Britain ’ s traditional offerings , Moving Venue offered a play on the classic ‘ fish and chips ’ with triple cooked potato chips , malt vinegar , salt and smoked trawled cod roe with MSC sustainability certification . Finally , with a nod to the Great British coastline we offered a baked ‘ blue label ’ hake fillet with mixed roast vegetables , potato dauphinoise and bacon butter .
What AV provisions were required ? White Light supplied all lighting to enhance the different areas used in the most effective way possible . Working closely with lighting designer Robert Jones , the equipment selected served to reflect the conference ’ s future tech focus , while highlighting the unique exhibits and architectural features of the main galleries .
White Light also supplied power distribution across the numerous spaces , including for several third-party suppliers , ensuring that all BS7909 standards were adhered to . With different set-ups for the main plenary over the two event days , White Light helped to facilitate a fast-overnight turnaround needed to meet the tight itinerary for this high-profile event .
What feedback did you receive from guests ? The event was attended by the secretary of state for DCMS , other DCMS ministers , senior government officials , senior executives from industry , academia and civil society and international delegations from a range of different countries . Feedback from delegates across all these groups has been extremely positive . www . conference-news . co . uk