Cooperation between University and creative industries

People working in creative industries in north Wales are to come together with experts from Bangor University’s School of Creative Studies & Media on 19 January in a networking event; Beyond Borders, expected to be the first of a series of similar workshops.

This first event between lecturers and researchers and members of Creative North Wales is seen as an opportunity for the School to work more closely with companies and practitioners in the creative industries, and to discuss opportunities for future collaboration.

Also taking part in the event are Guto Harri (BBC, News International. Liberty Global), Chris Payne of Quantum Soup, a small team of games developers based in north Wales, and Garffild Lloyd Lewis, Chair of Creative North Wales.

As event organizer on behalf of the University, Steffan Thomas, Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Creative Industries Lecturer at the School of Creative Studies & Media explains:

“This first meeting is an opportunity for us to strengthen our links and pitch for some more ambitious projects together, rather than working in small units.”

“Geography and travel presents us with challenges, but new opportunities also offer themselves in the digital world. We will be considering working across creative disciplines and the effects of new technologies on a range of practices within the  creative industries and media. It’s probably true to say that any small business requires a level of digital skills these days, and this is where our graduates have something to offer employers.”

Staffan has experience of working with the creative industries, as he assisted Sain cyf to bring their Welsh music streaming app to market while completing his KESS Scholarship-funded PhD.

The School excels in several areas of expertise including: the future of publishing, innovation in gaming, emotional AI, privacy and data protection, combatting fake news, new forms of documentary making, and new business strategies in the creative industries in Wales.

Garffîld Lloyd Lewis, chair of Creative North Wales said:

“I and the members of Creative North Wales welcome this event in Pontio, and are pleased to support it. This will be a great opportunity for individuals and companies who work in the creative industries here in the north to discuss areas of future growth and development, as well as recognising the opportunities and potential of cooperation between the creative sector and the University.”

Publication date: 17 January 2018