Planning a Cultural Event

There is a lot involved in organising an event like this, and early preparation is essential. It is important to follow a procedure and write lists of jobs to do and people to contact so nothing is forgotten. Below is an idea of what you can do to plan and stage an event like this.

1. Define the purpose and goal of the event.
   You need to read the assessment question carefully to ensure your plan for a cultural event is appropriate to the assessment and that you have included all the assessment requirements. 
2. Decide location and date/time.
   You will need to liaise with your tutor and ECE workplace manager to decide a suitable date, time and place for your event.
3. Develop a concept for the event.
   In line with the overall purpose of the event, this is where you will decide on the theme for the event and plan key ideas for it. For example, you may be celebrating a specific event such as Matariki, and the activities should be appropriate to the theme.
4. List resources needed
   Think about the resources you will need to decorate the room, food, art material etc. and also who you need to ask for help in staging the event.
5. Obtain approval
   Ensure the centre’s manager and your tutor have approved your plan. Remember, your plan should align with your workplace centre’s values, policies and procedures.
6. Recruit helpers
7. Prepare activities
   Detail the activities which will be occurring – think about whether activities are in groups, how long the activity will be, who will be leading the activity etc.
8. Promote your event
   Make posters, tell people, use social media etc. to ensure tamariki, staff, whanau and the local community know about it.
9. Obtain permission from parents or whanau to photograph and/or video their child for the purposes of assessment evidence. Your tutor has a permission form which they will distribute ahead of time.
10. Stage the event!
11. Evaluate and reflect on how it went. What went well and what could be done better next time?

Remember at all stages you need to keep a record of your planning and staging for assessment evidence. This means keeping a record of conversations with centre management and staff (who you spoke to, date and time of conversation, notes on what was said and agreed etc.), copies of emails or text messages with interested parties, keeping copies of posters or flyers etc.

During the event make sure to take photographs of the activities and/or take short videos to submit.

Here are a few ideas of themes or concepts you could consider for the event you will be staging. Check your ideas for your concept with your tutor early on to make sure it is appropriate for the assessment.

• Matariki celebrations
• Pasifika festival activities
• Cultural dress-up day
• Language and music day
• Māori storytelling
• Chinese new year
• Indian Diwali festival
• Multicultural fashion show
• Cultural storytelling circle
• Cultural games and sports
• Music and movement
• Nature and sustainability

Activity

1. Start thinking about a theme for the event you are going to organise and hold in your ECE workplace and begin the planning process. Start by making a list of tasks to be done as described before. You need to create a presentation based on the event you plan and stage for assessment 03A1, presentation 2. Make sure to read the assessment instructions thoroughly, and ensure you take note of the requirements listed in the assessment schedule.
2. Manaakitanga and Whanaungatanga
   The concept of manaakitanga promotes a welcoming and respectful space to foster a sense of belonging. In planning your cultural event include aspects of manaakitanga and be sure to explain how you have done so in your presentation.
   Whanaungatanga emphasises strong relationships and a sense of community. How can you show this concept in your cultural event? Be sure to explain in your presentation.

You’ve reached the end of this topic. Let’s go over the key points:

• You will be planning and staging a cultural event to support language, culture and identity of children of different cultures.
• Staging an event like this needs careful planning and there are a number of steps involved from concept through to delivery.
• There are many cultural festivals which can be used as a theme for your event, but there are also more general themes which could also be used.
• You need to demonstrate how you incorporated the concepts of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga in the planning and staging of your event.
• You also need to explain how your event supports the language, culture and identity of tamariki from three different cultures, including Māori, Pasifika and one other culture from the local community.