DIVA faculty and students were involved in a special project for event management that concluded with real life special events in prestigious NYC locations. TuttoToscana, the Fall 2012 short-term program, consisted of 3 weeks of learning in Florence and 1 week of events where students and faculty will be engaged in all areas of event management on-site at Astor Wine & Spirits, Degustibus Cooking School at Macy’s in Herald Square, and the James Beard Foundation. DIVA’s involvement focused on the program area of Art Direction, specifically in the fields of Photojournalism and Documentary Production. Students covered through photography and video all stages of events, from preparation in Florence to staging in NYC.

Photography and video coverage took students behind the scenes and in direct interaction on the floor at each event staging. Each venue presented unique benefits and challenges to capturing event concept and staging, due to the diverse missions and operations of each place. Students interviewed venue staff, our chefs, the student brigade and managers, and observed the crowd through the lens. Thanks to the intensive training in Florence, food and wine coverage of the menus produced at all events created unique visual documentation of TuttoToscana’s aim to familiarize New York City with real Italian Riviera gastronomy.

Follow DIVA student photography at CiboChat and videos at the TuttoToscana Youtube channel.