Event Communications

Event Communications, commonly known as Event, is a London-headquartered design consultancy focused on museums, exhibitions, visitor attractions and other experience-led cultural projects. Founded in 1986 by businesswoman Celestine (Cel) Phelan and design partner Steve Simons, the firm became one of Europe's longest-established and largest specialist practices in its field. Its work combines interpretation, spatial design, storytelling, architecture-related visitor experience, digital media and the planning of public-facing attractions. The firm's portfolio spans national and regional museums, heritage sites, science and technology venues, corporate exhibitions, visitor centres and landmark buildings. Notable projects associated with Event include the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Titanic Belfast, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin, the Guinness Storehouse, Bletchley Park, the Burrell Collection, the Roman Baths, the National Army Museum, the Siemens Crystal, The Shard Viewing Gallery and the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh. The breadth of this work reflects a business model based on designing complete visitor experiences rather than producing conventional advertising or standalone exhibition graphics. A significant management transition occurred in 2008, when a new team led by museum design consultant James Alexander and creative director Esther Dugdale took over the running of the firm. The change was followed by an expansion beyond Event's European base, with projects and activity extending into the Middle East, including Oman and Kuwait, and later into China and Hong Kong. Event's reputation has been reinforced by awards received by projects it designed. Its work has been associated with multiple European Museum of the Year recognitions, including the Riverside Museum in 2013 and the POLIN Museum in 2016. The Shipwreck Museum St. George in Denmark received the European Museum Forum's Silletto Prize in 2019, while St Fagans National Museum of History was recognized as Museum of the Year that same year. Other awards connected with Event projects include Themed Entertainment Association recognition for Titanic Belfast and the touring Meet Vincent van Gogh Experience, as well as World Travel Awards for attractions such as Titanic Belfast, EPIC and the Guinness Storehouse. From around 2016 onward, Event became increasingly associated with immersive and technology-driven interpretation. The Meet Vincent van Gogh Experience, created with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, translated the painter's work and life into a touring immersive exhibition. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin was presented as a highly digital museum experience and was shortlisted for the European Museum of the Year Award in 2018. The firm also worked with Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and the Odense City Museums on the House of Fairytales concept for the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense. Event's positioning is therefore that of a specialist experience-design partner for institutions and developers seeking to make history, culture, science, identity and place accessible through physical environments, narrative interpretation and digital interaction. Its work has covered both permanent cultural infrastructure and traveling or temporary experiences, with an international portfolio extending across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Event Communications was established in 1986 in the United Kingdom by Celestine (Cel) Phelan and Steve Simons. From its London base, the firm developed as a specialist practice in museum, exhibition and visitor-attraction design. Rather than concentrating on a single object or media format, Event's work has generally addressed the complete public experience: the organization of content, the design of spaces, the interpretation of collections, the use of interactive media and the creation of coherent visitor journeys. During its early development, Event built a substantial European portfolio. Its projects included museums and heritage venues in the United Kingdom and Ireland as well as institutions elsewhere in Europe. The firm's association with award-winning cultural projects helped establish its reputation in a sector where design quality is judged not only by appearance but also by educational value, visitor accessibility and the ability to communicate complex histories to broad audiences. Projects connected with the firm included the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres, the Riverside Museum in Glasgow and the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw. In 2008, the running of Event passed to a new management team led by museum design consultant James Alexander and creative director Esther Dugdale. This period marked a strategic broadening of the business. While retaining its European base, Event expanded its international focus into the Middle East, including work in Oman and Kuwait, and later into China and Hong Kong. The firm also undertook commissions for major architectural and corporate environments, including the Siemens Crystal in London, the KAPSARC research centre in Riyadh, The Shard Viewing Gallery and the Opportunity Pavilion associated with Expo 2020 in Dubai. The 2010s included several high-profile visitor-attraction projects. Titanic Belfast opened in 2012 and became one of the best-known attractions associated with Event. The project later received major visitor-attraction recognition, including a 2014 THEA award. Event also worked on the Riverside Museum, the National Army Museum, Bletchley Park, the Roman Baths, the Guinness Storehouse and other institutions in which interpretation and spatial storytelling were central to the visitor offer. Event's projects accumulated significant museum and tourism recognition. The Riverside Museum won the European Museum of the Year Award in 2013, followed by the POLIN Museum in 2016. Titanic Belfast was recognized in the World Travel Awards as a leading attraction in Europe and the world, while the Guinness Storehouse received a European leading-attraction award in 2015. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum received a European leading-tourist-attraction award in 2019 and was shortlisted for European Museum of the Year in 2018. The Shipwreck Museum St. George in Denmark received the Silletto Prize in 2019, and St Fagans National Museum of History was recognized as Museum of the Year in the same year. From approximately 2016, the firm became increasingly identified with immersive and technology-led experiences. In collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Event created the Meet Vincent van Gogh Experience, a touring exhibition that used immersive presentation to introduce audiences to Vincent van Gogh's work and life. The project received a THEA award in 2017. Event also worked on EPIC, a digitally oriented museum in Dublin, and on the House of Fairytales concept for the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense. The latter involved collaboration with Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and was planned as a major reimagining of the museum environment. Across its documented history, Event Communications has operated at the intersection of museum practice, cultural tourism, architecture and entertainment design. Its portfolio demonstrates a progression from established exhibition and museum design toward digitally enhanced, immersive and internationally delivered visitor experiences. Publicly available reference material does not provide enough information to state the firm's current ownership, financial position, website or present executive roster with confidence.

• 2019

  Multiple cultural-tourism recognitions

  [1]Event Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  The Shipwreck Museum St. George receives the Silletto Prize, while EPIC is recognized as Europe's leading tourist attraction and St Fagans is named Museum of the Year.

• 2017

  Meet Vincent van Gogh Experience launches

  [1]Event Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Event and the Van Gogh Museum create a touring immersive exhibition, which later receives a THEA award.

• 2016

  POLIN Museum wins European Museum of the Year

  [1]Event Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw receives the European Museum of the Year Award.

• 2013

  Riverside Museum wins European Museum of the Year

  [1]Event Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  The Riverside Museum in Glasgow receives the European Museum of the Year Award.

• 2012

  Titanic Belfast opens

  [1]Event Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Titanic Belfast opens as a major visitor attraction designed around the city's maritime and industrial history.

• 2008

  New management team takes over

  [1]Event Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  James Alexander and Esther Dugdale lead a new management team and the firm begins a broader international phase.

• 2003

  Chester Beatty Library receives European recognition

  [1]Event Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  The Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, an Event project, receives the European Museum of the Year Award.

• 2000

  In Flanders Fields Museum receives European recognition

  [1]Event Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  The In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres, associated with Event's work, receives the European Museum of the Year Award.

• 1986

  Event Communications is founded

  [1]Event Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Celestine (Cel) Phelan and Steve Simons establish Event Communications in the United Kingdom.

A specialist international design consultancy for museums, heritage destinations, exhibitions and immersive visitor attractions, combining narrative interpretation, spatial design and digital experience.

• Professional service

  Museum and gallery design

  Event designs museum and gallery environments that organize collections, interpretation and visitor movement into a coherent public experience. Its documented work includes national museums, regional museums, art institutions and heritage collections, with projects such as the Riverside Museum, POLIN Museum, the National Army Museum, the Burrell Collection and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

• Professional service

  Heritage and visitor attractions

  The firm develops visitor experiences for historic sites, cultural landmarks and destination attractions. Titanic Belfast, the Roman Baths, Bletchley Park and the Guinness Storehouse illustrate its work in translating place-based history and identity into accessible, ticketed or public-facing attractions.

• Professional service · 2016

  Immersive and digital experiences

  Event creates technology-led and immersive experiences that use digital media, scenography and interactive storytelling. Meet Vincent van Gogh Experience was developed as a touring immersive exhibition with the Van Gogh Museum, while EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum was noted for its strongly digital museum format.

• Professional service

  Corporate and landmark-building exhibitions

  Event also designs interpretive and exhibition environments for corporate, scientific and landmark buildings. Documented examples include the Siemens Crystal in London, The Shard Viewing Gallery, KAPSARC in Riyadh and the Opportunity Pavilion connected with Expo 2020 in Dubai.

• Professional service · 2017

  Traveling exhibitions

  The company develops exhibition concepts capable of reaching audiences beyond a single permanent venue. The Meet Vincent van Gogh Experience demonstrates this model by adapting museum-related content into a touring immersive attraction.

• 2016

  Move toward immersive and technology-driven experiencesStrategy

  Background

  Event increasingly associated its museum and attraction work with immersive interpretation and digital technology.

  Action taken

  The firm developed projects such as the Meet Vincent van Gogh Experience and digitally oriented museum environments including EPIC.

  Aftermath

  This direction expanded Event's work beyond conventional permanent exhibition design into touring immersive entertainment and digitally mediated cultural experiences.

  Source

• 2008

  Management transition and international expansionOther

  Background

  After more than two decades of operation, Event moved into a new management phase led by James Alexander and Esther Dugdale. The change coincided with a shift from a primarily European base toward a wider international project portfolio.

  Action taken

  The new team took over the running of the firm and pursued work in the Middle East, followed later by activity in China and Hong Kong.

  Aftermath

  Event's documented portfolio broadened to include international museums, visitor attractions and landmark-building experiences beyond its original European focus.

  Source

1. 1Event Communicationsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Meet Vincent van Gogh Experiencevangoghmuseum.nl