Exploring the convergence between the arts and the digital, between creativity and tech, covering:

>> Artists + organisations operating between disciplines to create new works of art // New relationships + partnerships // Pushing boundaries + reaching new audiences // Connecting people through digital technologies.

>> Creative + Digital Industries // Supporting growth of the sector // Fostering creative talent // The creative/digital crossover.

The format of the day is as follows:

12pm - Registration and view artworks and makerlab

1pm - Welcome and keynote

From 1.30pm until 5.30pm there will be a mixture of plenary and parallel sessions including in-conversations, workshops, talks and case studies as well as opportunities to network and view digital artworks.

Featuring: Skills and Growth, Limina Immersive, The Foundation for Digital Creativity, Siemens, Matmi, McCanns, Thrive, Sigma, Siemens, University of Salford, MMU, University of Manchester, The Audience Agency, FACT, AND Festival, Wild Rumpus and many more.

Digital Art Exhibition featuring: Laurence Payot ‘Living Sculpture’, Robin Rimbald ‘The Dreamer is Still Asleep’, Re-Dock The Turing Trial: Regina Vs Turing and Murray VR experience, Wild Rumpus and Scanner ‘Dreamy Digital Discoveries’ stop-motion animation, AND Festival and bluedot COSMOS 2017 VR experience and FACT FUTURES makerlab.

5.30pm - break for food and drinks

6.30pm Town Talk Ideas Place

7.30pm - Questions

8.30pm - Networking drinks and close

Tickets are free!

Please sign up separately for the Town Talk at 6.30pm here:

Weave host Sarah Bird of Wild Rumpus cultural events company will introduce Cynthia Nitikin from New York based Project for Public Spaces (PPS - the central hub of the global Placemaking movement), Roxy Robinson of Blue Dot Festival and David Gooda Chair of Barnaby Festival.

IdeasPlace will showcase the proactive, community driven cultural scene and how this can be supported to deliver benefits beyond the arts community, for place-making, regeneration and the wider economy. John Hartshorn of Artspace & Chair of Macclesfield Culture, Heritage & Arts Forum will also join the debate on “How to grow place-making opportunities for creative talent in Cheshire East?”

Please feel free to join us for any point of the day.