In a remarkable achievement, the Queensland Holocaust Museum has clinched both Gold and Silver awards at the 14th Global Eventex Awards. The museum’s Online Virtual Experience, launched in September 2023, won Gold in the Virtual Experience Category, while the physical Queensland Holocaust Museum received Silver in the Cause Events Category. Eventex, often referred to as the “Oscars” of the event industry, celebrates the world’s best creativity, innovation, and effectiveness in events and experiential marketing.
The Queensland Museum Online Experience, developed by Alive X, Australia’s pioneering storytelling, brand-building, and content engagement agency, was praised by Eventex Judge Laura Vilep, head of Global Events and Seminars for Mind Valley. She described it as a “project which brings goosebumps, so strong, immersive and important in its message.”
Alive X’s Founder, Ant Hampel, shared the inspiration behind the project, saying, “With a guiding brief of developing a museum experience unlike anything else seen in the world, Alive X created a place for people to learn, then lead. We focused on providing a deep, powerful, sensory journey to build strong and unbreakable emotional connections using content in remarkable new ways.”
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The recognition comes amidst a record-breaking number of entries for Eventex. Hampel elaborated, “We are absolutely delighted that we received global acclaim in two categories. The Queensland Museum itself utilized the latest emerging technologies to create a space which is like no other. It tells the stories of survivors using AI and VR and leaves visitors with a breathtaking account of an atrocious period in world history.”
The physical Queensland Holocaust Museum, which opened in June 2023, has been praised for its innovative use of an historic space. Hampel noted, “The space re-imagines the use of content comprising moving image, stills, new technologies AI and VR to optimize the experience.”
Jason Steinberg commended the project, saying, “The space created by Alive X is an extraordinary achievement and it’s about ordinary people in an extraordinary period in history. We are so proud to have won both awards and we would like to recognize the Queensland Government, The Brisbane City Council, and the Federal Government for their support in allowing us to create these award-winning achievements.”
Adam Mortimer, Director of Strategy, Partnerships, and Brand Experiences from Spaces Interactive, highlighted the importance of the museum’s mission. “A key objective was to record the lives of the 300 survivors who made Queensland their home. We were intent on informing school students and a wider audience about the Holocaust’s horrors sensitively, with the intention of developing an experience that is unique. We needed to tell the story in a way that was not offensive, nor too graphic, and yet create a never-before-seen experience.”
Mortimer added, “We drew on a broad range of inspirations and experiences spanning cinema, theatre, international museums, sculpture, design, and music. The result is unexpected and highly engaging. We also aligned the live and digital worlds, acknowledging the shift to asynchronous learning.”
This significant achievement underscores the innovative spirit and dedication to powerful storytelling that Alive X embodies. As the world continues to evolve, the integration of advanced technologies in preserving history ensures that future generations can engage with and learn from the past in profoundly impactful ways.
