In the world of event production, technology is more than just a tool – it’s a creative partner. At the Master Builders ACT Centenary Gala, Encore’s team proved just how transformative technology can be, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to turn archival history into a living, breathing centrepiece for celebration.
Event production insight
How AI Brought a Century of Construction to Life: Lessons from Encore’s Centenary Gala Production
November 17, 2025
The Challenge: Making History Engaging
Every milestone event deserves a story that resonates. For the centenary of Master Builders ACT, the brief was clear: celebrate a hundred years of building Canberra, honour veteran members, and create an experience that felt both meaningful and modern. But how do you make history feel alive for a room full of guests?
The Solution: AI-Powered Storytelling
Encore’s multimedia team tackled the challenge by delving into archives, sourcing historical photos from the National Archives and Master Builders’ own collection. Rather than simply displaying these images, the team harnessed cutting-edge AI and multimedia technology to animate and transition between decades. By morphing a site’s photo from one era to its present-day counterpart, Encore created dynamic video sequences that brought history to life. The results were truly spectacular – transforming static snapshots into immersive, moving stories that captivated the audience.
The result
A bespoke highlight reel that brought Canberra’s construction history to life, showcased on pixel totems at the entrance and on giant LED screens throughout the venue. To further enhance the experience, Encore paired the video with a carefully curated soundtrack that journeyed through the centenary – beginning with the roaring 1920s, moving through the 1960s, and culminating in modern-day hits. This musical progression not only complemented the visuals but also immersed guests in the spirit of each era, drawing enthusiastic reactions from all in attendance.
How Encore did it
- Curated Archival Material: Sourced historical photos relevant to the centenary theme.
- AI Animation & Morphing: Encore used artificial intelligence to animate faces, movements, and entire scenes, breathing new life into archival images. The team’s standout achievement was morphing historical site photos into their modern equivalents, using AI to seamlessly transition between eras. These video morphs were wildly effective, creating a sense of wonder and connection that elevated the storytelling far beyond traditional slideshows.
- Multimedia Integration: Composed the animated content into a two-minute highlight reel, synchronised across multiple screens and pixel totems for maximum impact.
- Era-Spanning Soundtrack: Paired the video with music from each decade of the centenary, amplifying the emotional resonance and atmosphere.
- Brand Customisation: Incorporated Master Builders’ colours and geometric branding elements, ensuring the video felt bespoke and on-message.
The Takeaway for Event Planners
AI isn’t just for tech conferences, it’s a powerful storytelling tool for any event that wants to honour its history, engage its audience, and stand out from the crowd. By partnering with creative multimedia teams and embracing new technology, planners can transform archival material into unforgettable experiences.
Encore’s work at the Master Builders ACT Centenary Gala is proof (read Case Study): when you combine creativity with innovation, you don’t just celebrate the past – you bring it to life.
Image Credits:
Archival images courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
Modern images courtesy of the Master Builders Association ACT.