In June Greenpeace launched a campaign to persuade Volkswagen to support tougher car efficiency targets and 30% cuts in CO2 emissions, and to make their cars more efficient.
Greenpeace have asked its local networks to organise some public outreach events where we will make use of the VW videos to engage the public into communicating with VW via campaign action cards, generating media coverage for the campaign and to further involve Greenpeace supporters in the campaign and Greenpeace's work.
I have been tasked with working with some of our other networks to organise our public outreach event. The Jedi Council had a meeting last week where we discussed a number of ideas and eventually came up with the concept of a weekend popup exhibition with a Star Wars fancy dress launch party.
What this is:
The Exhibition bit: The idea is to find a venue/pub/community centre that will give us some free space for a weekend (from friday evening to sunday afternoon). The exhibition will consist of the different films shown separately and people walk from one screen or projection to another. Information panels will also be made available with info on campaign and helpful volunteers will also be on hand to answer any questions they might have, get them to sign cards, join online groups, give GP some money… We also thought about getting people to take photos with Brian Stromy with their message to VW written on a speech bubble which we could then post on VW Facebook pages etc.
The launch party bit: Any decent exhibition has a launch party and so does this one. For this to happen our event needs to be held somewhere that has a licence, as much as I hate it, people only attend parties if booze is available. Ideally this would mean we could get to take over the basement or back room of a pub for weekend for exhibition and people just buy drinks from pub. The event could consist of showing the films, talks about campaign, fundraising ask, bands/music and some lightsaber Vs VW pinata action. People would also be strongly encouraged to come dressed in star wars costumes.
We would very much appreciate any help that people can offer us.
We need to find a venue; without it, none of the above will happen. If anyone has any experience, knows anyone or is happy to ask at their local, please contact them and email me to let me know. As it stands we have no money for this so we are after a free event. I realise that this can be difficult in London but let's use that as the ambition and see what we can get out of it.
To summarise we're looking for a place that meets the following requirements:
- Is a pub, gallery or community hall (will entertain any other suggestions)
- Has a license for alcohol
- Has A/V equipment or facilities to put our own up, ideally we want 5 large displays to exhibit on
- Will be suitable for a launch party, with music and a DJ
- Is free
- Is available from a Friday evening until Sunday afternoon
If you know anyone who might be interested in helping out or have useful skills or experience, please put them in touch and try and get them to come to next meeting.
Comments