EVENT PLANNING
AND PRODUCTION
Program Duration: 14 Weeks x 20 Hours a week
Your Instructor: Nikki Renshaw
Total Instruction: 280 hours
Prices: Domestic: $3995.00 (Installment Plans Available)
Prices: International: $3995.00 (Installment Plans Available)
Start Dates: January, May, Sept
Delivery Options: In-class, online, or combined delivery
Maximum Class Size: 18 students
EVENT PLANNING AND PRODUCTION
From the first creative brief to the final event-day schedule, successful events depend on thoughtful planning, clear communication, and coordinated production.
Event Planning and Production introduces you to the creative and operational sides of the industry. Learn to develop event concepts, prepare budgets, research venues, coordinate suppliers, design guest experiences, and create promotional campaigns.
You will also explore photography, digital content creation, social media, and digital and AI-supported tools for research, organization, communication, and marketing.
Through workshops, practical assignments, simulations, and presentations, you will apply your learning to event scenarios and develop work for your professional portfolio.
PROGRAM DETAILS
This 14-week program combines instructor-led learning with practical exercises and project development.
Explore corporate events, weddings, conferences, community celebrations, promotional events, and experiential events. Practice preparing the documents and creative materials that support an event, including proposals, budgets, floor plans, vendor schedules, marketing campaigns, and run-of-show documents.
Your final capstone project brings these skills together in a complete event plan. Present your concept and supporting production documentation, respond to feedback, and refine selected components.
Program Structure & Hours
Duration: 8 Weeks x 20 Hours a week
Total Program Hours: 160 Hours
Delivery Method:
In class: Instruction, demonstrations, workshops, photography exercises, and practical planning and production activities.
Online: Instructor-led instruction, digital learning materials, collaborative activities, practical projects, and online presentations.
Combined: A combination of in-class and online instruction and activities
LOOK FOR A WAY TO APPLY?
Enroll now to turn your passion into a thriving career. Master essential skills, build your portfolio, and launch your dream path with expert guidance and hands-on training
Develop practical skills to plan, coordinate, promote, and support professional events. Explore event concepts, budgets, design, production, photography, marketing, and client relations while building a portfolio of applied work.
PROGRAM JOURNEY
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Explore event types, industry roles, professional standards, and the planning process. Analyze event examples and develop an initial concept and planning checklist.
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Translate a client brief into an event concept. Develop a theme, mood board, visual direction, branding, and preliminary proposal.
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Prepare timelines, checklists, production schedules, staffing plans, and event-day run sheets. Practice adapting plans to changing deadlines and requirements.
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Develop a basic event budget, compare supplier quotations, plan payments, and calculate contingency funds. Practice tracking projected and actual costs.
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Research and evaluate venues and suppliers. Prepare vendor lists, communication plans, supplier schedules, and venue proposals.
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Create floor plans, seating arrangements, décor concepts, and signage. Consider guest flow, accessibility, atmosphere, and visual consistency.
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Explore staging, audio, lighting, equipment, staffing, setup, and breakdown. Develop production schedules and troubleshooting plans through practical scenarios.
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Create promotional graphics, captions, social media posts, short-form video concepts, and content calendars for before, during, and after an event.
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Practice composition, lighting, camera and smartphone photography, image selection, and basic editing. Develop a shot list and a small event photography portfolio.
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Develop an event marketing campaign with audience research, promotional timelines, email content, social media materials, and campaign evaluation.
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Use digital and AI-supported tools for planning, research, budgeting, communication, and content development. Practice checking outputs for accuracy and protecting confidential information.
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Practice client consultations, professional communication, risk assessment, contingency planning, conflict resolution, and post-event evaluation.
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Develop a complete event plan individually or in a small team. Integrate your concept, budget, venue and vendor plans, production documents, marketing, photography, guest experience, and risk planning.
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Compile selected program work into a professional portfolio. Explore resume preparation, interviews, networking, freelance opportunities, and presenting your work.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
✔ Develop event concepts based on client requirements, audiences, objectives, and budgets.
✔ Prepare proposals, timelines, checklists, production schedules, and run-of-show documents.
✔ Develop and monitor basic event budgets.
✔ Research venues, vendors, suppliers, and event services.
✔ Create event layouts, décor concepts, and guest-experience plans.
✔ Coordinate stakeholders and apply production and logistical planning principles.
✔ Create written, photographic, video, and graphic promotional content.
✔ Develop social media and digital marketing strategies.
✔ Use digital and AI-supported tools appropriately.
✔ Apply professional communication, client service, and basic risk-management practices.
✔ Present a complete event plan and professional portfolio.
CAREER PATHS
The program prepares students to pursue entry-level employment, contract, freelance, and assistant opportunities in event planning and related creative industries.
Potential roles include:
Event Planning Assistant.
Event Coordinator Assistant.
Event Production Assistant.
Wedding Planning Assistant.
Conference and Meeting Assistant.
Corporate, Community, or Special Events Assistant.
Event Marketing or Promotions Assistant.
Event Operations or Venue Events Assistant.
Social Media and Event Content Assistant.
Event Photography Assistant.
Experiential Marketing Assistant.
WHAT YOU WILL COMPLETE
Your practical work may include:
Event concepts, proposals, and mood boards.
Budgets, venue evaluations, and vendor plans.
Floor plans, staffing plans, and production schedules.
Promotional graphics, social media content, and marketing campaigns.
Photography shot lists and selected event photographs.
Risk assessments and contingency plans.
A capstone event plan and professional portfolio.
TUITION & GRANTS
Program Tuition: $3,995.00
Payment Options: [Confirmed payment options]
Additional Costs: [Confirm textbook, software, equipment, and material costs]
Students should have access to a computer, internet, word-processing, spreadsheet and presentation software, digital design tools, and a smartphone with a camera.
A digital camera and basic photography equipment may be used where available. Planning templates, production resources, and digital collaboration tools support practical assignments.
Required Textbook:
Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions: An Introduction to the Industry, 7th edition, by G. G. Fenich and K. Malek.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
A high school diploma or equivalent, or mature student status—19 or older on the first day of study.
An admissions interview in person or by video call with the designated admissions or education administrator.
An application essay of at least 250 words explaining why you chose The Cut and this program, your interest in fashion, and your future career goals.
The ability to read, write, and communicate in English, meeting the academy’s applicable language proficiency requirements.
The outline lists CLBPT Level 6 and Duolingo scores of 85–90 as accepted in some circumstances. Contact admissions to confirm the requirement that applies to your application.
*Start dates, class times, and schedules are subject to change. Enrolled students will receive their confirmed class schedule two weeks before the cohort’s scheduled start date. The Cut may postpone a course start date or adjust its schedule.
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Nikki Renshaw
Nikki started her design career in her native London, UK where she completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Central Saint Martin’s school of Art. After moving to Vancouver, BC, she enrolled in BCIT where she completed the Interior Design program, and has been teaching a variety of design courses at several institutions for the past decade. Nikki has extensive experience in television, where she hosted numerous shows back in London, as well as hosting a radio show for over a decade here in Vancouver. She is an expert in marketing as she has been running her own design company for many years and has a large social media presence with over 118,000 Instagram followers. She regularly contributes to design magazines on both sides of the globe and Elle France magazine included her Instagram account @englisheccentrichome in their feature on influencers to watch in 2024. Her work has been featured in Elle Canada, UK Cosmopolitan, Vancouver Magazine, Western Living and The Vancouver Sun as well as other publications. Currently, Nikki is the Program Director for the Costume, Global Fashion Marketing and Interior Design courses at the Cut, as well as running her design business and studying for a Master’s Degree at the Arts University of Bournemouth in the UK.
*Start dates, class times, and schedules are subject to change. Enrolled students will receive their confirmed class schedule two weeks before the cohort’s scheduled start date. The Cut may postpone a course start date or adjust its schedule.
This program has been approved by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
The Cut Design Academy is designated with PTIB