Hosting the Atlantic Arc Commission in Wales
The Welsh Government bid for the opportunity to host the annual general assembly meeting for the Atlantic Arc Commission and the conference dinner. It was the first time that the event had been brought to the UK.
Freshwater delivered the conference, followed by a three-course dinner for Commission members. This involved the design of all event branding and content, the coordination of suppliers and the delivery of simultaneous translation services for 60 conference attendees.
Brief
The Atlantic Arc Commission was established in 1989 and covers five states (Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Spain and Portugal). It is one of the six Geographical Commissions in the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe who bring together policy makers, academia and experts from different countries that form part of the Atlantic Arc Sea Basin Strategy.
The General Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the Atlantic Arc Commission. It is composed of all the member regions and meet at least once a year to vote and take decisions on the political orientations of the Atlantic Arc Commission.
Freshwater was asked to provide end-to-end event management, with a particular focus on live translation into four separate languages.
Delivery
Freshwater provided full event management of the conference and three course dinner. This included the production of a floorplan co-ordinating the suppliers and the design of all the branding and content.
Our in-house studio produced the presentation slides, all outdoor and digital signage, dinner menu cards, place settings and the table plan.
We also designed the stage and set to fit the event theme, using locally sourced flowers to decorate the conference and dinner venue. Cerys Hafana provided the evening entertainment at the conference dinner.
Freshwater created a 3D flythrough of the conference room during the planning stages, which provided invaluable due to Grade I listed building’s wide gothic-style columns causing some viewing obstruction for delegates.
The event was simultaneously translated into four different languages, using translation booths and headsets for attendees, to avoid sound transmission.
60
international attendees
4
languages translated in real time
1
plenary session with Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS and Vaughan Gething
Results
The event was a success, enabling Commission Member Region’s in-depth exchanges of views on various issues of shared interest.
Freshwater worked alongside the CPMR Atlantic Arc Commission, Welsh Government International Relations team, The Senedd event team, and local police and security to deliver a first-class experience to delegates.