COVID lockdowns across a few states in Australia, the latest being NSW, have disrupted a number of industry events planned for the coming weeks.
The upcoming Visual Connections Member Golf Day and Networking Dinner, Printing Industry Creativity Awards (PICAs) celebrations and FESPA Australia Sydney social events have all been postponed.
The NSW PICAs celebration was due to be held this Friday July 16, but with the ongoing lockdown it will now be held on Friday September 17 at the Ovolo in Woolloomooloo.
In other changes, the SA/NT PICAs celebration will be held on Thursday August 26 at the National Wine Centre of Australia in Adelaide. The Melbourne event will be held on Friday August 6 with the venue now moved to The Sheraton.
The Queensland PICAS remain on track and will be held at the Tattersalls Club in Brisbane on Friday July 23. The Perth PICAs celebration will be held on Saturday July 31 at the Crown.
“The PICA presentations, like so many things, have been impacted by travel, border and gathering restrictions and, while we realise it’s frustrating to have arrangements changed, it’s all part of the flexible approach we need to take to ensure events are both safe and successful,” says Walter Kuhn, President of the Print & Visual Communications Association, which hosts the PICAs.
“We are grateful for the persistence and agility of our events team in rescheduling in such a dynamic environment, and for the patience and understanding of the many people who had already reserved their place for the original dates. As for the AGM scheduled for July 16 in Sydney, this will now take place virtually at the same time specified before.
“We’ll continue to monitor the situation across the country closely, but we hope no further changes will be necessary.
“These will be a wonderful opportunity to unite the industry over food, drinks, entertainment and the celebration of print perfection,” Kuhn adds. “I would warmly encourage anyone who has not yet booked to do so now – all the latest details and booking links are at the website.”
In other industry events, the Visual Connections Member Golf Day and Networking Dinner will now take place on Tuesday September 7 at the Pennant Hills Golf Club.
A Sydney social event planned for members of FESPA Australia has been postponed until Thursday August 26 but will continue to be held at the Haberfield Rowers Club, Dobroyd Parade, Haberfield.
The PICAs dates calendar, in brief:
- Queensland – Friday 23 July, Tattersalls Club, Brisbane
- Western Australia – Saturday 31 July, Crown, Perth.
- Victoria – Friday 6 August, The Sheraton, Melbourne
- South Australia – Thursday 26 August, National Wine Centre of Australia, Adelaide
- New South Wales – Friday 17 September, Ovolo, Woolloomooloo, Sydney
For tickets to the PICAs, please visit https://www.trybooking.com/eventlist/pica. Tickets are $120 per head with a special PVCA member rate of $100, accessible with the code published on the booking form.
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