2024-11-16. Please see the message below from the University of Pittsburgh Nationality Rooms about the open house this Sunday (November 17, 2024).
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, November 17, 2024 from 12- 4 pm in the Cathedral of Learning for the 33rd Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs Holiday Open House. Important information can be found here: Holiday Open House 2024 | Nationality Rooms.
Participants may begin to arrive at 9 am for set up. We have Quo Vadis guides assigned to assist you with bringing your items into the building. Please look for them at the Fifth Avenue entrance or at the Visitor Center. You may use the pull in area off of Fifth Avenue temporarily. You may not leave your vehicle parked there. If you are bringing carts or large wagons, do not use the revolving doors off of Fifth Avenue. Please go to the accessible entrance facing Heinz Chapel on the S. Bellefield side of the Cathedral of Learning.
Committee Table Assignment / Commons Layout
We will have clear signage at each table with the committee or participant name. Please review the attached Commons layout for where your table(s) is/are located, as based mostly on last year’s plan. Please note that the shaded tables represent a 6ft, folding table. The tables that are not shaded are wooden tables of various sizes. So if your committee requested two tables, but you only see one listed, it is likely that you will have a large wooden table.
Cultural Items & Food Selling
Committees may offer items for sale, such as ornaments and items that represent your cultural heritage. Please note that the University does not permit raffles or other games of chance. Committees who are planning to sell food should plan for baked goods and prepackaged food items that do not require heating and individual serving.
Committee Presence in the Nationality and Heritage Rooms
If you are planning to have a committee presence in the room, please plan for presentations that are about 5-6 minutes in length to help with the visitor experience and flow of traffic. The back log in the hallways is unpleasant for visitors and can be unsafe. Please also consider how an activity may be completed in about 5-6 minutes or can be offered as a make-and-take craft. For committees who cannot have a presence in their associated room, we will assign a Quo Vadis guide to engage visitors.
Musical Performances
We are planning for lower noise volume with less speakers around the Commons and a focus on vocal musical performances of longer lengths of time. We are pleased to welcome a Pitt student acapella group this year – Songsburgh!
Nationality and Heritage Rooms Visitor Center
The Nationality and Heritage Rooms Visitor Center will be open during the Holiday Open House. We have some lovely seasonal merchandise. Please also look at the Nationality and Heritage Rooms Store online.
Please reach out to nationalityrooms@pitt.edu if you have any questions.
Swiss-American Society of Pittsburgh 