Real Media Awards Gala event returns
Real Media Collective’s Awards programme, the Real Media Awards, is returning to its major Gala event, and merging 2021 and 2022 years into one event slated for September.
“With the WA border now open and New Zealand opening in April, we are able to confidently provide a trans-Tasman Gala event as we have successfully achieved over the past seven years. Borders and density restrictions across the event in Melbourne were all factors in considering the merge of the two years and ultimate extension for all our entrants,” commented Kellie Northwood, chief executive officer, The Real Media Collective.
The Real Media Awards celebrate all things print, marketing and brand. From brochureware to print collateral, catalogues to magazines, property portfolios to signage, point of sale to direct mail – celebrating printers and customers together in partnership.
Effectiveness, craft, creativity and innovation are recognised in the prestigious event, with some 700 entries and 600 attendees at the Gala, and 100 at the Auckland Industry Insights event. “The Real Media Awards is an industry Awards programme connecting our customers with our industry. More than an industry-only event, the Real Media Awards showcases our channel in celebration with our customer’s successes – not having the opportunity to do this together with our usual Gala event was something we felt wouldn’t provide the same opportunity for our customers, members or industry entrants. We did not want to cancel, nor run another virtual event, so we went to work on how to navigate with the best outcome for our industry,” said Northwood.
New categories this year include Packaging and Labels under Excellence in Craft and Digital as a standalone, both for the first time. Northwood said, “Packaging and Labels has been a growth sector for TRMC with the Two Sides – Packaging campaign development and Love Paper inclusion of packaging research. Digital will celebrate the partnership print and digital have working together for optimal output.
“Many of our members have diversified into packaging and labels and as such, it was fitting to include this growth sector. We also hosted webinars with designers, retailers and agencies throughout the year and they indicated how much digital and print work together. It made sense in our connection with printers and customers to introduce these Award categories.”
Support sponsors on board include Australia Post, IVE Group, Ovato, Ball & Doggett, Currie Group, HP, Media Super and Sierra Delta, with more to be announced as the new categories are attracting much interest.
“The Real Media Awards has grown year in year in both entries and sponsors, as an opportunity for our industry and their customer’s to be recognised for their campaigns and partnerships. The design and print industries bring our customer’s visions to life, and what better way to celebrate our craft than with our customers. That is the Real Media Awards from agencies to designers, printers to paper distributors – we are one Collective industry that is awarded and recognised for our individual roles. I love nothing better on the night than watching our members and their customers celebrate what they produced together,” concluded Northwood.
For more information go to: Real Media Awards 2021/22
Key dates:
Entries submission deadline – 31 May
Awards Judging – July
Awards Gala Celebration – September
New Zealand Awards and Insights Event – October