New York Public Radio’s Gala
This year’s Gala convened leaders across media, arts, and philanthropy for a powerful celebration of independent journalism and culture. Raising over $1.7 million, the evening honored Stephen Colbert and Evelyn McGee Colbert, David Remnick, and Darren Walker under the theme Stand With Public Media.
Hosted by Richard Kind, the program moved with intention and momentum for a crowd of more than 600 guests and featured performances by Jon Batiste, Ben Platt, Ana Gasteyer and Conrad Tao, along with remarks from LaFontaine E. Oliver, NYPR President & CEO and Executive Chair and a spirited live auction led by Pat Tully, Auctioneer.
The night culminated in a high energy afterparty with a DJ set by Questlove, an atmosphere captured in Vogue’s exclusive coverage of the event.
Produced by our team for the sixth consecutive year, we shaped every element from creative direction and program flow to screen content, technical production, and stage management. The result was a polished and mission driven experience elevating one of NYPR’s most meaningful nights.
Photography by Slaven Vlasic & Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
