Uplift Festival: It’s a wrap!

Education Futures recently hosted the first Uplift Festival as part of Project Uplift. The day was a great success, with innovative practice from across the university showcased, hands-on workshops and tours, creative wellbeing activities and plenty of conversation and connection over good food and coffee. If you came along and want to relive the uplifting (!) vibe, or if you weren’t able to make it and want to catch up on the day, read on for an overview and flick through the photo gallery.

Festival in review

After kicking off with a welcome from Executive Principal Education Futures, Steve Warburton, the day split into multiple streams with a wide range of vibrant experiences and activities. A constant stream of staff from all areas of the university visited throughout the day to engage in:

• Presentations showcasing innovative learning and teaching practice from academic staff across the university
• Hands-on workshops on rich media exams, H5P and video editing
• Interactive 3D and VR displays
• Immersive Igloo experience with 360° multimedia
• Media studio tours to explore green screen production and Lightboard presentation
• Live event drawing
• Creative wellbeing activities
• Coffee truck
• Social connection and informal discussion spaces

Feedback from attendees was incredibly positive, with a 71% 😍 rating from the interactive poster presentation and a number of new projects and ideas spawned throughout the day. Many people also commented on the wellbeing impacts of being able to relax, connect and create in a positive atmosphere.

The day closed out with remarks from the Vice Chancellor Simon Evans and Chancellor James Harris, emphasising the importance of Project Uplift and the value both the project and the Festival represent for the UNE community as a whole. And by popular demand, the team has agreed to run similar events in 2023, so make sure to keep an eye on the project site for more opportunities to connect, engage and create coming soon…!

Festival Analytics

• 40kg of coffee beans
• 52L of milk
• 30 media studio tours
• 59 jewellery/keyring creations
• 26 rocket ship artworks 
• 25 staff photos
• 14 presentations and workshops
• 16 Elements

Photo Gallery

These are just some ‘citizen journalism’ photos from our intrepid Director on the day – watch out for official photos in upcoming communications.