Go behind the scenes at Auckland Diwali Festival
Aspiring events professionals invited to join event observer programme

SUMMARY
• Do you study, work in or aspire to study or work in event management? Would your studies, work or aspirations benefit by taking part in the 2018 Auckland Diwali Festival observer programme?
• If so, and you have Indian heritage, the festival organisers want to hear from you.
• The 2018 festival takes place in Aotea Square and Queen St on Saturday, 20 and Sunday, 21 October, Labour Weekend, with the one-day observer programme happening on Sunday, 21 October.
• People keen to get involved can apply by emailing diwali@aucklandnz.com

Organisers of the Auckland Diwali Festival want to hear from aspiring events professionals keen to have a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce one of Auckland’s largest cultural festivals.

The festival is produced by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) on behalf of Auckland Council, and this will be the first year ATEED has offered an observer programme for the event.

The one-day programme will be held on Sunday, 21 October, the second day of the two-day festival in Aotea Square and Queen St.

Festival producer Leilana Meredith says she is keen to hear from anyone who has Indian heritage and who studies, works in or aspires to study or work in event management and who believes their studies, work or aspirations would benefit by taking part in the observer programme.

“ATEED is committed to building capability in Auckland’s local events industry and getting a first-hand look at the delivery of a major cultural festival is a great opportunity for future event organisers. This observer programme complements the intern and volunteer programmes that ATEED runs for Auckland’s major cultural festivals.

“Observers will meet and talk with the festival production team and attend a live brief in the on-site operations centre (OSOC), where all the key event staff regularly meet during the event to discuss how it’s going, any immediate issues and how to solve them.

“You’ll go backstage, watch the stage manager in action and chat with the back of house coordinator; meet with the stall manager to get an overview of the importance of stall operating conditions and food safety; and get an insight into all aspects of the event.”

Taking part is free of charge, but participants are responsible for their own travel to and from the festival, parking throughout and any accommodation, if required.

If you are interested in taking part, please email Diwali@aucklandnz.com, and tell the team about yourself, your background, your studies or work, and how taking part in the observer programme would benefit you.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday 21 September and applicants will be notified by Friday 28 September 2018.

Auckland Diwali Festival is one of the region’s most popular cultural festivals, with 55,000 people attending the 2017 festival. It is delivered in conjunction with founding partner Asia New Zealand Foundation.

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