HILL COUNTRY GALLERIA SWEEPS 2021 ICSC GLOBAL AWARDS
Lifestyle and entertainment center receives top industry honors for initiatives like Bee Cave BuzzFest, Sunset Series, #BeeStrongTogether campaign, and Anvil + Aura Store Design
BEE CAVE, Texas (July 30, 2021) -- Lifestyle and entertainment center Hill Country Galleria is thrilled to announce it received several International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Global Awards for 2021. The ICSC Global Awards are the most recognized achievement for professional excellence, creativity and innovation in the retail real estate industry, presented to companies elevating marketplaces and retail spaces through their outstanding achievements in marketing, design, development and retail store design. Winners were honored during a live broadcast on Thursday, July 29. Hill Country Galleria was one of only a handful of centers recognized in Texas.
The MAXI Awards recognize innovative events, programs and technology that add value to shopping centers and companies across the United States and Canada. Hill Country Galleria received several MAXI Awards, including GOLD in the “Impact” category for its BUZZFEST Winter Light Festival held in partnership with the Bee Cave Arts Foundation and curators Barna Kantor and Kyle Evans. The Galleria placed SILVER in the categories of “Experiential” for its #BeeStrongTogether campaign, created in partnership with local graphic designer Cathy Richardson of Cimi Shine, and “Innovation” for its 2020 Sunset Series, made possible in partnership with HK Stages, Austin Event Lighting and Black Fret. Jewelry studio and showroom Anvil + Aura placed GOLD for “Most Creative Temporary Store Design” in the Visual Victories Awards, a visual merchandising competition specifically created for cart, kiosk and temporary in-line retailers.
Details of each initiative and award can be found below.
Bee Cave BuzzFest Winter Light Festival
GOLD | MAXI Award for “Impact” - Shopping Centers over 500,001 square feet
In December 2020, Hill Country Galleria and Bee Cave Arts Foundation hosted the inaugural BuzzFest winter light festival. This outdoor display of light art installations took guests on a deep dive into the ocean of bioluminescence and immersive sound, created by nationally acclaimed artists and curated by Barna Kantor and Kyle Evans. This free event invited guests of all ages to experience art in a whole new light, from light and sound installations to live performances.
BuzzFest Photo: https://giantnoise.box.com/s/dzpp2kjq4ttk4h79wa2xmi4djwt024e9
#BeeStrongTogether Campaign
SILVER | MAXI Award for “Experiential” - Shopping Centers over 500,001 square feet
At the start of the pandemic, Hill Country Galleria developed the #BeeStrongTogether campaign and commissioned local graphic designer Cathy Richardson of Cimi Shine to create a series of colorful, inviting marketing materials to frame health and wellness messaging in a positive light. For this effort, as well as initiatives like ensuring proper social distancing plans or virtual event pivots to safely maintain popular programs like Camp Gladiator and the Saturday Night Concert Series, as well as the installation of curbside pick-up locations to facilitate retail and dining, the Galleria was also named a Top 10 Comeback Retail Center by Chain Store Age in 2020.
#BeeStrongTogether Graphic: https://giantnoise.box.com/s/093h66u29d5shi75tnfo65me7xqrbxw8
Sunset Series
SILVER | “Innovation” - Shopping Centers over 500,001 square feet
Last summer, Hill Country Galleria hosted “Sunset Series,” a free drive-in, rooftop concert series in partnership with HK Stages, Austin Event Lighting and Black Fret. The three-night series featured live performances by Black Fret artists Love & Chaos, Henry Invisible, and Darkbird along with Hill Country sunset views on the open-air rooftop level of the Galleria’s parking garage. The Galleria took great care to ensure social distancing measures were met, including creating “personal tailgate zones” for vehicles to ensure guest health and safety while presenting a crowd pleasing event.
Sunset Series Photos: https://giantnoise.box.com/s/9vmp69vakevvn8btdoy5yjejojxuwd63
(Courtesy of Hill Country Galleria)
GOLD | “Most Creative Temporary Store Design” - Visual Victories Awards
Local jewelry studio and showroom Anvil + Aura, by co-owners Tiva Rose and Andrea Moore, received gold recognition for “Most Creative Temporary Store Design” in ICSC’s Visual Victories Awards. The jewelry boutique opened at the Galleria in May 2020 and features handcrafted pieces made from materials such as reclaimed diamonds and semiprecious stones set in 10-karat yellow gold, sterling silver or ancient bronze.
Anvil + Aura Photos: https://giantnoise.box.com/s/2a38pggnbpybvrt5g3arhgg9v6mdpdfl
(Credit: Jane Yun)
For more information about Hill Country Galleria, follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or visit www.hillcountrygalleria.com.
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ABOUT HILL COUNTRY GALLERIA
Hill Country Galleria, a 1.3-million-square-foot lifestyle center, is located at the major intersection of Bee Cave Road, Hwy 620, and Hwy 71, west of downtown Austin in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. The multi-use complex, which underwent a multi-million dollar transformation in 2017, features 713,000 square feet of retail, 285,000 square feet of Class A office space, 300,000 square feet of apartments, 100,000 square feet of residential condominiums, and 50 acres of green space, and is anchored by Dillard’s, Barnes & Noble, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Cinemark, and Whole Foods Market. Hill Country Galleria offers a vibrant, comfortable, and convenient destination where life and style connect. Hill Country Galleria is located at 12700 Hill Country Blvd, Bee Cave, TX 78738, and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, please visit www.HillCountryGalleria.com or follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACT
Giant Noise | Carrie Hellinger
hillcountrygalleria@giantnoise.com | 512-382-9017