Digital Utopias Conference – final programme confirmed

The final programme has been confirmed for Digital Utopias, a one-day conference taking place in January 2015 that has been developed to inspire debate around the impact that new technologies can have in enabling creativity across the arts.

The Arts Council event, curated by Abandon Normal Devices and supported by Google for Hull City of Culture 2017 will be accommodated within various spaces at Hull Truck Theatre. The conference will bring together partners from The Space, AHRC and the British Council as well as artists and cultural practitioners from across the UK and beyond.

Consisting of showcases and debates on everything from generative literature and minecraft, to considering what’s next for digital practice and the challenges that come with classifying this growing chaotic field. This comprehensive programme will also provide opportunity to network with award-winning and international artists like Thompson and Craighead, Matthew Plummer Fernandez, and Memo Akten, to Open Data Institute founder Julie Freeman and development lead of the Space, Ruth Mackenzie, to name a few.

The final programme will include:

Activate the Public Space: Led by Furtherfield founder Ruth Catlow, and the artist Professor Jennifer Gaby, this debate will consider how ‘public space’ can be defined. We hear from a range of organisations who have opened up new social spaces, data and communities through gaming, networked objects and growing DIY communities.

Copy and Paste: Change in technology has played a pivotal role in literature (from Gutenberg to GoogleDocs). In this showcase we invite Jim Hinks from Comma Press and Joanna Ellis from the Writing Platform to look at everything from generative writing, books as code, to alternative distribution models.

Crafting Code:This showcase will explore the role of new materials in art production, and how data can be materialised. We invite presentations on algorithmic, and the creative opportunities this expanding field creates from design, digital sculpture, science, 3D modelling & wearable technology. Speakers include Craft Council’s Karen Gaskill and digital artist Matthew Plummer-Fernandez.

Google Creative Labs (1hr plus Q&A): Join us for an open session with Google Creative Labs who will talk through prototypes currently in development with a specific focus on gaming projects, including the web based music platform that lets you play music live with your friends from anywhere.

The day will finish with an immersive digital art work. ‘The Measures Taken’ is a collaboration between Marshmallow Laser Feast and Alexandra Whitley Dance Company. Both a dialogue, and a duet between human movement and the digital world, this performance promises to be visually striking and kinetically charged.

The full programme, and details on how to sign up, can be found here.

Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chair Arts Council England said: “We are delighted to be continuing our collaboration with Google for the Digital Utopias conference, and to be holding it in Hull, City of Culture 2017. 

“Digital creativity has the potential to bring arts and culture direct to the widest possible audiences and bringing together leaders in these fields will help to explore the opportunities that these innovations might create.”