MCEC clinches award for creativity and expertise

THE LUME is Australia’s first digital art gallery, permanently housed at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The LUME has hosted 39 events with more than 8,000 pax since its opening in November 2021.
The LUME has hosted 39 events with more than 8,000 pax since its opening in November 2021.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has won the Victorian MEA Banqueting and Catering Award for The LUME Melbourne.

Since THE LUME opened in November 2021, it has hosted 39 events with more than 8,000 people. Over 850,000 people have attended its exhibition, and 65,000 visitors have been served in its Café Terrace 1888.

Events include gala dinners for up to 1,200 guests, AFL Season launch (400 pax), Coles Group Showcase (1,000 pax), and 7-Eleven End of Year Conference Dinner 2022 (557 pax)

Event menus are customised to align with the theme or meet customer’s specific requirements. For example, MCEC chefs worked with Indigenous chef Nornie Bero, head chef and founder of Mabu Mabu, to create a menu for the 2022 AFL Season Launch event.

The venue is Australia’s first digital art gallery, permanently housed at MCEC and spans 3,000 sqm with projections four stories high. Created by Grande Experiences and hosted in partnership with MCEC, THE LUME Melbourne combines state-of-the-art design, sights, sounds, tastes and aromas to immerse visitors in the art world.

Bruce Peterson, founder of Grande Experiences, creators of THE LUME, said: “THE LUME Melbourne is designed to offer unrivalled experiences - a real gamechanger for the events industry. Where else can you integrate brand or product so seamlessly and efficiently into the venue?”

The venue has a dedicated café and event spaces in its exhibit and mezzanine. MCEC’s culinary experts design and deliver themed menus to reflect the art, times and influences of the featured art and artists. Menus are designed for the café, bespoke breakfast, gala and cocktail events. Each dish is paired with wines, craft beers and cocktails.

In keeping with MCEC’s food philosophy, the menus showcase Victorian producers and suppliers, benefiting local supply chains and reducing carbon footprint.