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a year of talent and skills

Creative, cultural and digital come together at regional networking event

by Claire Fletcher

Creative practitioners are invited to a South Yorkshire wide networking event to explore the power of digital in expanding the reach of their industries.

At an upcoming event from the South Yorkshire Cultural and Creative Industries Network, speakers from Yorkshire-based organisations including the Children’s Media Conference and PitStop Productions, will discuss how they’ve embraced digital to reach new audiences, and to overcome challenges presented by the pandemic. The event takes place on Thursday 2 December at the Barnsley Digital Media Centre, and you can see more details about the event from the press release below.

The event is part of a series of South Yorkshire Cultural and Creative Industries Network sessions open to a full spectrum of creatives, including those who work in theatre, TV, film, publishing, arts, design, music, photography and much more. It is free to join and will be held at Barnsley’s Digital Media Centre from 5.30pm to 8.15pm.

The event will centre around the theme of ‘Embracing Digital to Boost our Creative and Cultural Sector’ and will feature a thought-provoking panel discussion with representatives from exciting creative and digital organisations.

Following challenges and opportunities presented to creatives due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event will highlight inventive and creative ways in which the region’s businesses and organisations are reaching new and expanding audiences, as well as the future of culture and arts in a digital world. Speakers from Yorkshire-based businesses and organisations will also reveal how they’re putting the region on the global map by delivering their services worldwide and working on projects of major significance.

Speakers include:

● John Sanderson, Founder/Managing Director of PitStop Productions. An award-winning provider of audio services, Pitstop Productions has worked with world leaders in the video game and entertainment industries. John’s talents and experience lie in musical composition, arrangement, production and voice direction.

● Jacqui Wells, Deputy Director at The Children’s Media Conference (CMC), a not-for-profit organisation supporting the children’s media industry. Jacqui started working at The CMC in 2012 – the UK’s only gathering for those involved with developing, producing and distributing content to children on all platforms. She has since grown with the conference, which now welcomes 1,200 delegates to Sheffield every year.

● Kisha Bradley of Community Digital and Bright Box.

● Devinia Skirrow, Marketing Manager at Barnsley Museums.

It will be an interactive event where audience members are invited to share their ideas and successes with fellow creatives via a Q&A session or by delivering a short presentation on a topic of their choosing. This could include celebrating the start-up of a creative business in the digital industry, seeking partnerships for an existing regional project or sharing how an organisation pivoted its offering online during the pandemic.

Attendees will also be able to view a private art exhibition at Barnsley College before the network event, details of which are available when booking.

The South Yorkshire Cultural and Creative Industries Network

Organised by Showroom Workstation and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), the South Yorkshire Cultural and Creative Industries Network will host a programme of insightful events at venues across the region over the coming year. It is designed to help nurture talent, galvanize opinion and further boost the sector whilst highlighting the great importance of the Cultural and Creative industries to the UK’s economy.

Kate Brindley, Project Director for arts, culture and heritage, SYMCA, works with South Yorkshire’s cultural sectors to attract investment, grow participation, and increase tourism opportunities for the region. She said: “Following the success of the first network event in Doncaster last month, we’re delighted to see more of the region’s creative leaders, experts and practitioners coming together for the next collaborative event in Barnsley.

“At the upcoming digital themed session, speakers will share how the Covid-19 pandemic led them to utilise digital platforms, reaching new and expanding audiences; and delve into how and why they plan to build on this to continue to take their work global.

“Representatives from exciting businesses and organisations will also showcase how the region has become a hotbed for digital innovation and talent, sharing their growth story to inspire the next generation of digital entrepreneurs.”

For further information about the event and to register for a free place, visit www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/creative-network. Anybody who would like to share a creative idea or success at the event is asked to email create@showroomworkstation.org.uk in advance.