Digital R&D in the Arts Forum

Date: 06.02.2013 10:30 - 17:30

Location: Manchester Town Hall, Manchester, M2 5RT

Nesta, in partnership with the Arts Council England and Arts and Humanities Research Council, has launched a £7 million Digital R&D Fund for the Arts. This will support research and development projects that use digital technology to enhance audience reach and/or explore new business models in the arts. Nesta, AHRC and Creative Scotland are running a related initiative in Scotland.

The Forum explored the nature of collaborative technology relationships, risk taking and knowledge sharing in the arts informed by the experience of various initiatives including, but not restricted to, the Digital R&D Fund.

The day was chaired by Dr Paul Gerhardt, Managing Director, Archives for Creativity, and included addresses from Geoff Mulgan, Chief Executive, Nesta, Alan Davey Chief Executive, Arts Council England and Rick Rylance, Chief Executive, Arts and Humanities Research Council and Steven Crossan, Head of Google's Cultural Institute.

The Forum included panel discussions, conversational formats and stream sessions covering themes from UGC and social media and distribution and exhibition to mobile, location and games and data and archives. The audience also be heard from some of the Fund's eight pilot projects who shared their experiences.

For more information on the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts please click here

Agenda

10:00 - 10:30     Registration

10:30 - 10:35     Welcome: Dr Paul Gerhardt, Managing Director, Archives for Creativity - Chair of the day

10:35 - 10:50     Introduction:

Geoff Mulgan, Chief Executive, Nesta

Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England

Rick Rylance, Chief Executive, Arts and Humanities Research Council

10:50 - 11:10     In Conversation with James Davis, Content Team at Google's Cultural Institute

11:10 - 11:45     Opportunity Panel:
Dr Paul Gerhardt, Managing Director, Archives for Creativity

Anthony Lilley, CEO, Magic Lantern Productions Ltd

Hasan Bakhshi, Director of Policy and Research Creative Economy, Nesta

Tim Plyming, Head of Digital, British Museum

Victoria Tillotson, Digital Producer, iShed, Watershed

The opportunities panel draws on themes from throughout the event and asks what are the emerging areas for the arts that would benefit most from R&D activity.

Panellists will be asked to briefly present their own vision and organisational priorities for digital over the next 3 years, and to discuss the needs of the wider arts sector over this time period.

11:45 - 12:00     Break

12:00 - 12:45     Stream I A: User Generated Content & Social Media:

Chair Rohan Gunatillake

John McGrath, Artistic Director, National Theatre of Wales

Skinder Hundel, CEO, New Art Exchange

Lawrence Chiles, Acting Head of Design & Digital Media, Royal Museums Greenwich

Jane Burton, Head of Content and Creative Director, Tate Media

This panel looks at how organisations are using social media to engage better with audiences and what the opportunities are for getting them to generate content.  Looking honestly at the challenges and successes and asks the audience to share their views and ask questions.

Stream I B: Distributing content: Chair Jon Kingsbury, Nesta

Professor Mike Wilson, Dean of Research & The Graduate School, University College Falmouth 

Andy Green, Founder of Distrify Ltd

This panel looks at distribution of content and how organisations are using online distribution to engage with new audiences beyond the physical arts space.  Participants will share their experiences and draw on the audience to find out what has and hasn't worked. 

12:45 - 12:55     Break

12:55 - 13:40     Stream II A: Exploring new business models for digital engagement:

Chair Rohan Gunatillake, 21awake

Kam Star, Playgen & Digital Shoreditch                

Laura Sillars, Artistic Director, Site Gallery

Liz Rosenthal, Founder and CEO, Power to the Pixel

The panel explores the opportunities available for exploring new business models (both new revenue streams and new organisational practices).  A rich discussion on taking chances and the benefits of providing a space for new collaborations to develop.

Stream II B: Education & Learning:
Chair Jon Kingsbury

Sharna Jackson, Tate Kids Editor, Tate Media

Anra Kennedy, Content & Partnerships Director, Culture 24  

Professor Andrew Burn, DARE Digital, Arts, Research & Education, University of London     

Panellists share their experience of working within education and learning; inspiring young people and creating a learning agenda within their organisations.  How can digital help provide better learning experiences for people young and old?                 

13:40 - 14:45     Lunch

14:45 - 15:30     Stream III A: Interactive media:

Chair Rohan Gunatillake, 21awake

Ben Templeton, Creative Director, Thought Den

Rose Fairchild, Creative Director, Splash and Ripple

Matt Adams, Blast Theory

This panel looks at key examples of digital and interactive media used within the creative, cultural sector; what's pushing the boundaries and/or providing best practice for the sector.

Stream III B: how can we make the most of our data and archives: Chair Jon Kingsbury, Nesta

Dr Paul Gerhardt, Archives for Creativity

Dave Moultry, Director and CEO, Cornerhouse

Sophie Walpole, Head of Digital Media, Victoria and Albert Museum

This panel discusses how to make the most of data, what data is important and how archives can be harnessed to engage audiences in new ways.  What are the challenges of using data and are there business models for exploiting archives successfully? 

15:30 - 15:40     Break

15:40 - 15:50     Stream Session Summary

15:50 - 16:20     Future Panel:

Dr Paul Gerhardt, Managing Director, Archives for Creativity, Chair

Paul Bennun, Somethin' Else and ArtAngel

Honor Harger, Lighthouse               

The Futures session will explore how new and emerging consumer and production technologies might impact on the Arts.

Panellists will be asked to provide insights on what nascent technologies might prove useful to arts organizations and the wider sector over the next 3-5 years. We hope in this session to inform future areas of digital R&D activity.

16:20 - 17:00     Next steps & Close

17:30 - 19:30     Reception