We know we're in the home stretch towards Festival opening day when the production/exhibition crew starts moving out onto the National Mall, as they did today. Over the next few weeks, they will be setting up the Festival infrastructure, program exhibition areas, and staff "compound."

For the last month, the warehouse has been buzzing with activity as the crew painted stage backdrops, built display structures, and gathered the supplies and equipment for installation. Technical Director Rob Schneider sent us photos showing the progress on structures being built for the Campus and Community Festival program.

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Story Circle roof for The Commons Tent

Story Circle roof for The Commons Tent

Backside of curved wall

Unpainted kiln

Cornice for Morrill Performing Arts Center Stage

Slice-shaped planter for the Michigan State Pizza Garden

Whole pizza structure for the Michigan State Pizza Garden

Tyler Nelson shows off the finished structure for the UC Davis Bags Across the Globe project.

Scenic painter Lisa Allen takes a break from painting the table that will be used by the University of Illinois team to display a specialized wheelchair.