G: Tell us about the project?
K: The VENUE at Shoreditch Village is a temporary event space on Shoreditch High Street. The space will be used for a variety of events including corporate events, local markets and exhibitions. The project was inspired by Hackney Council as a way to promote Hackney to the Olympic audience of press, business leaders and other dignitaries. Hackney Council needed a home for ‘Hackney House’ over the Olympic period and they stumbled across the large car park just off Shoreditch High Street. It was agreed that Hackney House could be based in the car park but the owner of the site came up with the idea to extend the temporary venue space before and after the Olympics to capitalise on other events within the up and coming area. Ex Events have been brought in to help sell the space and execute events within the structure. The site itself is very different to any permanent venues or temporary marquee sites in the area. It includes some really interesting features including local street art by residents, an exciting garden feature; a permanent exhibition for ‘Tech City’ and the marquee itself is formed by 2 big tops.
G: When the space will be available from/to?
K: 1st of May until the 17th September 2012.
G: Have you got any special events planned there yet?
K: The space is being used for a number of events including Hackney House over Olympics and Digital Shoreditch Festival which is a 2 week-long event at end of May beginning of June; as well as the ‘Tech City’ exhibition which will hopefully create a permanent flow of people throughout the whole time the structure is up. We also have lots of interesting enquiries we are working on for some of our corporate clients and a number of events that will be engaging with the local community, but it’s all top secret at the moment!
G: What are the main challenges in launching this project and how are you overcoming them?
K: The main challenge is getting the information out to the masses. For a project to be successful we need to make as many people aware of it. We have done a lot of mailing to our corporate clients along with using social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin which are all really valuable ways of getting the details out there.
G: Why did you choose Shoreditch to launch this project?
K: It chose us really….but the style of the marquee is so different and unique we couldn’t resist working on the project!
Social links:
Twitter: @ExEventsLtd
Website: www.exevents.co.uk & http://www.shoreditchvillageevents.co.uk/
