Creative Resilience: The Art of Mass Gatherings in Northern Virginia

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ArtsFairfax invites emergency responders and event organizers to a 2-day workshop on how to safely present large programs, festivals, or mass gatherings.

Saturday, October 2, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
McLean Community Center
Majestic Collaborations presents a symposium of Creative Resilience: The Art of Mass Gatherings in Northern Virginia.

Sunday, October 3, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
MPAartfest on the grounds of McLean Central Park

Accessibility site walk, accessibility assessment and discussion led by Laura Grunfeld (Everyone’s Invited) and Betty Siegel (Kennedy Center).

 

This artwork by Denver artist Dion Harris for Majestic Collaborations depicts the dual roles as event producers on “sunny days” and community responders in times of emergency that arts and event professionals and organizations are uniquely equipped to serve.

Creative Resilience: The Art of Mass Gatherings in Northern Virginia

Hosted by ArtsFairfax
Presented by Majestic Collaborations
Funded by Performing Arts Readiness
through a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

October 2, 2021 – 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

McLean Community Center
1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, VA 22101

October 3, 2021 – 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

McLean Community Center and MPAartfest
1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, VA 22101

The Art of Mass Gatherings (AoMG) is an experiential and immersive program that uses festivals as classrooms to activate an arts-focused approach to resilience and emergency preparedness. The symposium is free and includes on-site training and webinars. ArtsFairfax is one of seven hosts for the Art of Mass Gathering Program across the U.S.

AoMG embodies the “whole community” approach to resilience. Skilled professionals in mass gatherings and new learners will share knowledge, join networks, and prepare to assist their communities if impacted by an emergency, disaster, or a climate or health crisis. Presenters include emergency responders, entertainment electricians, renewable energy organizations, event safety experts, and more.

Saturday’s program 10/2

An introduction to the Art of Mass Gatherings’ approach to event design, focusing on the four pillars of safety, accessibility, sustainability, and community engagement. Speakers include Matthew Kowal of Majestic Collaborations, Tom Clareson of Performing Arts Readiness, Carol Foster of the International Association of Blacks in Dance, Betty Siegel of the Kennedy Center, and Laura Grunfeld of Everyone’s Invited.

Sunday’s program 10/3

A hands-on experiential tour that uses the festival as a classroom. It introduces and builds upon the four pillars of successful event production– safety, accessibility, sustainability, and community engagement– with a special emphasis on greening events.

Opening events at McLean Community Center | 1 pm
1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, VA 22101

Tours of the 15th Annual MPAartfest grounds | 1:20-3:40pm
Participants will experience three tours, rotating in small groups from location to location:

  • Tour 1: Sustainability and life cycle design featuring Majestic Waterworks, Zero Waste Festivals
  • Tour 2: Accessibility site walk, accessibility assessment and discussion led by Laura (Everyone’s Invited) and Betty Siegel (Kennedy Center).
  • Tour 3: Safety and emergency preparedness – Tour co-led by Carol Foster (International Association of Blacks in Dance and Performing Arts Readiness) and Jim Digby (Event Safety Alliance)
  • Brief close and networking time 3:40pm-4pm

We are monitoring the CDC’s guidelines and request that participants wear a mask. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test received within 48 hours will be required for entry. This workshop is subject to change based on local infection rates.

 

  • Performers
  • Organizers
  • Planners
  • Promoters
  • City staff
  • Emergency responders
  • Engineers
  • Vendors
  • Audiences and the public

  • COVID-19 Modifications
  • Event virtualization
  • Life safety, health, and public welfare
  • Event waste reduction and management as part of emergency preparedness
  • Cultural Placekeeping
  • Climate change resilience
  • Legal concerns and emergency plans
  • Mental and physical health first aid
  • Crowd management
  • Entertainment and emergency systems (waste, water, power, interactive content/innovative audience communication to enhance safety)
  • Enhancing accessibility
  • Transportation and tactical urbanism
  • Harm reduction, gender safety, and trauma-informed practices
  • Emergency preparedness for nontraditional venues and immersive events

  • Help festivals safely re-commence activities including in-person as well as virtual activities in case COVID restrictions remain in place.
  • Build relationships across disciplines, agencies, multicultural groups, and neighboring counties.
  • Share best practices with respect to festival accessibility and sustainability.
  • Prepare organizations for a variety of situations including hurricanes, earthquakes, and terrorism.

Coming Soon

 

For More Information visit:

Performing Arts Readiness

Majestic Collaborations

Space is limited

Thank You to our host committee members

ArtsFairfax
Arlington Arts
Celebrate Fairfax
City of Alexandria
Majestic Collaborations
 McLean Community Center
McLean Project for the Arts
Performing Arts Readiness
Visit Alexandria
Workhouse Arts Center

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