Virtual exhibitions build skills, bolster hobby
Exhibitors far and wide continue to debate the pros and cons of virtual exhibitions following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Exhibitors, judges and organizers continue to debate the pros and cons of virtual exhibiting after more than 33 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, which upended exhibitions from the local to the international level. While in-person exhibitions returned around the world in 2022, virtual competitions filled the void through much of 2020 and 2021. After decades of traditional in-person events, the experience offered by virtual shows – or hybrid shows with both virtual and in-person components – has been a learning curve for all parties. “It’s a lot different doing a live show compared to a virtual show,” said Vancouver philatelist Ed Kroft, an award-winning exhibitor and international-level judge accredited by the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC), of which he’s the past president. “The experience is different, but I actually like virtual exhibiting because I think exhibitors get the chance to put their exhibit in front of a judge for a lengthy period of time. Judges can thoroughly study it relative to an in-person event, where the jury has less time to view the exhibits.” Continue reading →