The Print and Visual Communications Association (PVCA) has confirmed that the remaining Printing Industry Creativity Awards (PICAs) and the 38th National Print Awards will now take place on Friday November 5.
PVCA president Walter Kuhn says the change was brought about after after a snap decision by the Queensland Government to declare Friday October 29, the date that the events were initially scheduled for, a public holiday.
The change means PICA presentations for Victoria, WA and NSW will now be held on Friday November 5, and will be immediately followed by the 38th National Print Awards.
Kuhn said the increase in staging costs due to holiday loadings, together with a desire to support Queenslanders to enjoy a much-anticipated long weekend, were behind the decision.
“I don’t think there’s anyone who would begrudge any State the opportunity to take a break and enjoy some time away given the events of the past couple of years, but after only recently confirming Brisbane as the most viable venue for the print award presentations, the announcement by Premier Palaszczuk that the ‘Ekka’ public holiday would be rescheduled to the Friday of our event did take us by surprise,” he said.
“The no-doubt unintended consequence for us, and for others who had events booked that weekend, was a doubling of our staging costs overnight, coupled with the threat of cancellations from registrants keen to embrace the chance to take a few days away.”
By pushing the event out once more, Kuhn says industry businesses can enjoy both the long weekend and the National Print Awards celebrations – albeit after waiting another week.
With varying restrictions still in place in other states, these final presentations will be a mix of in-person and livestreamed events spanning five states and four time zones.
The WA PICAs will be announced live at a function at Crown Perth, commencing at 5pm. In Sydney, the NSW PICAs will be presented in-person at Ovolo, Wooloomooloo kicking off at 6pm.
The Victorian PICAs will be announced at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre at 6.15pm (QLD time), with the proceedings live-streamed into Victoria (at 7:15pm Melbourne time) and SA (at 6:45 pm local time).
“In Victoria and SA, where gathering restrictions are still in force, patrons will enjoy a special ‘in-home experience’, with a gourmet hamper of food and drinks delivered direct to their door to enjoy while Zooming in for the celebrations,” Kuhn said.
All states will join in the presentation of the 38th National Print Awards, which will be presented immediately following the PICAs in Brisbane, and live-streamed around the country to the satellite events and in-home attendees.
Visit www.printingawards.com.au for the latest details, or https://www.trybooking.com/eventlist/pica to book your place.
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