Oxfordshire Creative Industries Showcase 2019
Creative Industries contribute over £100 billion a year to the UK economy*, with Oxfordshire home to over 3,000 digital and creative businesses alone- a significant and dynamic force within the industry.
Ranging from world-leading publishers, nationally recognised arts and cultural bodies, cutting edge innovators in VR and immersive technologies, architects, designers, and ground-breaking gaming and software companies, the sector employs over 30,000 people across Oxfordshire, contributing over £1.4bn to the local economy.
Identified as a high growth cluster in the Creative Industries Sector Deal, the sector is central to Oxfordshire’s ambitious Local Industrial Strategy Trailblazer, which aims to position the region as one of the top three global innovation ecosystems by 2040, and which will be jointly launched with Government in the coming weeks.
OxLEP and Oxford Brookes University are working in collaboration with national partners including Creative England, Creative Industries Federation, Arts Council England and the Digital Catapult to bring Oxfordshire’s ‘world-class’ creative industries together in its first dedicated event in June 2019.
Innovators, entrepreneurs, national sector bodies, industry leaders and influencers, will all have the chance to convene and celebrate the extraordinary vibrancy and dynamism of the creative industries in Oxfordshire.
The event will include an exhibition of leading Oxfordshire creative and technology businesses, as well as a series of curated panel discussions involving industry leaders, which will be focusing on, “Harnessing new technologies to power innovation across the creative industries.”
Speakers will include:
Stephen Johnstone: Managing Director, Mediapro Contenidos UK
Chris Burns: Head of Audio and Digital, BBC England
Alison Norrington: Founder, Storycentral
Jason Kingsley OBE: Co-founder and CEO, Rebellion
Further speakers to be announced.
As well as plenty of time for networking with other creative businesses, there will also be the opportunity for delegates to access business support and advice from national sector bodies, who will be holding surgeries throughout the showcase.
Come along and join pioneering creatives, trailblazers from the tech sector and leaders from industry.
Detailed Programme
13.15 – 13.30: Delegates arrive
13:45- 13:55: Ministerial Opening of event
14:00: ‘The Future of Storytelling’. A panel session chaired by Paul Ashton, Head of Film at Creative
England *
We’re constantly told that the key to engaging audiences is by telling a powerful narrative. In an age where audiences are seeking more meaningful and bespoke experiences, we ask how content creators are using new and emerging technologies to evolve the storytelling process.
14:50: ‘Cross-sector innovation and the skills required’. A panel session chaired by Annie Lydford, Head of Communications and Marketing at Creative Industries Federation *
This session will bring together leading creative and digital businesses from within and outside the Oxfordshire LEP region to raise awareness of the growth potential of cross-sector innovation. Creative enterprises are often well-positioned to unlock innovation and growth across the wider economy, in part because of the crucial blend of creative and digital skills inherent in their business. Trailblazers working across the UK’s creative economy will discuss how identifying opportunities in other industries has accelerated their success. Speakers will share insights on how to replicate this success locally - including the workforce and skills needed - in order to accelerate growth and innovation across the region.
15:40: Exhibition and business surgeries in the ‘Pods’
A chance to network and engage with Oxfordshire companies, whilst also having the opportunity to ‘drop in’ to a business surgery hosted by national and local organisations in the ‘pods’
17:10: ‘New Technology, New Audiences: Exploring the power of Immersive, 5G and AI to connect with untapped audiences’. A panel chaired by Emily Savage, Immersive and Creative Partnerships Lead at the Digital Catapult *
The latest advances in digital technology mean that the arts, cultural and tourism audiences are no longer bound by location, format preferences or accessibility. Experiences can be made more widely available, more engaging, more empowering and more accessible on every level. Join this panel of cultural, digital and storytelling experts to understand how interactive design, extended reality and advanced connectivity can deliver experiences to expand audiences.
18:00: Q & A with Jason Kingsley OBE from Rebellion, the award-winning video games developer and TV, film, book and comic publisher, headquartered in Oxford *
25 mins Q & A - Interviewer is Gill Oliver: Business and technology journalist and Editor-in-Chief of TechTribe Oxford
18:25 – 18.35: Future Plans for the Oxford Brookes Campus. Paul Inman, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of Technology, Design & Environment, Oxford Brookes University *
18.35: Evening Drinks reception – Kindly hosted by Oxfordshire Technology and Media Network (OTMN) and its sponsors Grant Thornton and Freeths - Networking and closing remarks from OXLEP *
20:00 – Close of Event
(Please note * sessions require the ‘Free Exhibition, Panels, and drinks reception ticket’)
(Exhibition stands will be open until 6pm)
Which is the best ticket for me?
We have two ticket types available for this event.
Option one - Free exhibition, panels, and drinks reception ticket:
Access to the main event, all panel sessions and evening networking reception: Provides access to main event, the four panel sessions in the Lecture Theatre, as well as the evening drinks reception following the main event. It is also includes access to the exhibition space.
Option two: Free exhibition ticket:
Access to the general exhibition space only: Access to the exhibition space where key Oxfordshire creative industries companies and both Universities will be showcasing their specialisms and innovation, as well as business advice and surgeries from leading national sector bodies.
(Please note this ticket can't be upgraded on the day).
*Figures published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
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