The challenge
In 2025, the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts made a bold move: reimagining its flagship festival as a fully virtual experience for the first time in its history. While the Center had a strong tradition of gathering in person, leadership was eager to globalize the event to bring Latter-day Saint artists and audiences together from across continents. Virtual was the clear solution, but it was also unfamiliar and intimidating. The goal: preserve the heart of the in-person experience while expanding it to a global stage.
The solution
Entrusting BigMarker with the challenge, the Center leaned on BigMarker’s platform, design capabilities, and hands-on production team to guide them every step of the way.
BigMarker’s design and production teams collaborated closely with the Center to build a fully custom virtual experience, from the homepage to the agenda and each individual session page. The centerpiece was a Custom Audience Experience, a live stream interface designed specifically for the Center’s brand. With cohesive visuals, intuitive navigation, and thoughtful design throughout, attendees were immersed in an environment tailored to the arts community it served. This preserved the festival’s identity and elevated it in the virtual space.
Artists, filmmakers, and audiences joined from around the world for a rich program of presentations, screenings, and discussions. A highlight was the virtual screening of The Mission, followed by an exclusive Q&A with acclaimed filmmaker Greg Whiteley, opening meaningful dialogue about faith and creativity. The Center combined live and simulive sessions to balance real-time interaction with high-quality pre-recorded presentations ideal for coordinating global speakers and maintaining consistent production value.
Behind the scenes, the priority was ensuring everything ran smoothly for presenters and attendees alike. With BigMarker’s support team present throughout planning and live execution, the Center’s internal team could focus on engaging their community.
Result
The festival delivered a seamlessly executed, globally attended experience that preserved the spirit of the in-person event and elevated it to a worldwide stage, achieving 100% presenter success and a 100% satisfaction rate from organizers.
What the team said:
- “We’re not exaggerating when we say that every single person who joined our tech rehearsals said something like, ‘Oh, this is really easy!’ or ‘I don’t have to worry about sharing my screen or fumbling with PowerPoint.’ The simplicity for presenters was incredible. Everything ran smoothly on the day of the event — no hiccups — which was one of our biggest concerns going in. BigMarker made it feel effortless.” - Veronica Harvey, Director of Marketing & Communications
- “When we reflected on what made this event a success, the very first thing on our list was ‘BigMarker Team’ — with eight exclamation points. Having your team with us, not only in the lead-up but also live on event day, was such a relief. Knowing you were there in real time made everything feel seamless. That support was invaluable.” - Mykal Urbina, Executive Director
The 2025 Virtual Festival was more than a successful pivot; it was a turning point, proving that a cherished in-person tradition can thrive (and grow) in the digital space. By partnering with BigMarker, the Center created a globally accessible, beautifully branded, and flawlessly executed virtual experience, laying the groundwork for a more inclusive, connected, and far-reaching future.
