Reignite X: Exporting Ideas

Over 10 editions, Reignite has become a space where industries meet. With over 2,300 attendees from culture, business, education, technology and place-making, it has proven how powerfully the creative industries connect to every part of our economy. This milestone edition looks at one crucial theme: exporting ideas and how creativity developed here reaches national and international audiences, and what that means for economic growth, collaboration and opportunity across every sector.

This session is an invitation to see how cultural ambition drives impact far beyond the arts. By exploring real examples of regional projects with global reach, we’ll uncover what it takes to transform ideas into exports that shape reputations, attract investment, and strengthen the wider economy.

Speakers & Inspiring Projects

• Delma Tomlin, Director of the National Centre for Early Music, will share how their recent festival attracted over 1 million listeners on BBC Radio 3, a powerful demonstration of how cultural programming from our region can achieve extraordinary national and international resonance.
• Tim Leigh, Chief Creative Officer at Stage One, returns 18 months on to showcase the company’s global impact. He’ll discuss their work on the 2025 Serpentine Pavilion, A Capsule in Time, designed by Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum, entirely built and shipped from Stage One’s York-based facility.
• Paul Crewes, York Theatre Royal, will reflect on their 35-night sell-out Gary Oldman production, which captured national and international media attention—from The Guardian to the New York Times. We’ll explore how regional theatre can achieve a global profile while strengthening the cultural and economic fabric of its city.
• Curator, Marie-Anne McQuay, Liverpool Biennial will share insights from their 2025 edition, BEDROCK. With over 30 international artists and audiences in the tens of thousands, the Biennial demonstrates how world-class contemporary art redefines a city’s identity, draws in visitors, and creates lasting civic and economic legacy.

Reignite X will reveal how culture intersects with business, tourism, education, technology, and placemaking. You’ll leave with practical insights, fresh connections, and a clear view of how exporting creative ideas can fuel growth across every part of our shared economy.