brighton digital festival 2014 guide

Guide

#BDF14brightondigitalfestival.co.uk

Over 100 eventsall over Brightonall of September

Premier Sponsor: Local media partner:Brighton Digital Festival is funded by:

Brighton Digital Festival 2014 02

Alongside the success of the Brighton Digital Festival has been the amazing rise of the Brighton Mini Maker Faire, justly one of the most popular events at every BDF. Last year an incredible 3,300 people of almost every age came through the doors of the Corn Exchange to take part in the celebration of creativity and invention.

It’s back for 2014, of course, and there’ll be more makers and workshops than ever before. Daleks and other roving robots will be joined by members of the Star Wars Rebel Legion. There’ll be 3D printers and laser cutters, novel musical instruments and science experiments, but also technology from a pre-digital age, including weaving and woodwork. Try to find time to take part in a workshop – learn how to program your own robot, make felted jewellery, bind a book or solder a simple circuit.

It is, as ever, free for kids, but any adults wanting to save 25% should pop to makerfairebrighton.com before hitting the Corn Exchange on Saturday 6th.

MINI MAKER FAIRE

Musical light shows are great ( just ask any Pink Floyd fan), but how much more fun would they be if you were controlling them? Head over to the Unitarian Church after Mini Maker Faire on Saturday 6th (8pm) to take part in the spectacular Laser Light Synths – a music and light show that you control using bespoke touch-activated musical instruments filled with hundreds of high power LED lights. This new interactive extravaganza lets you become the band, turning the New Road church into a laser light spectacular. Laser Light Synths is the latest project from Seb Lee-Delisle, the local award-winning digital artist who drew crowds to Brighton during BDF 2013 with his PixelPyros digital fireworks display.

BRIGHTON RECOMMENDSPERSISTENT PERIL VS PAUL HAYES

I’m really looking forward to Persistent Peril vs Paul Hayes: ‘Dark Ride’ 2014. The PP team are yet again making an excellent contribution to the BDF programme with a real-world miniature fantasy monorail ride which we’ll then be able to ride on via a 360° camera and virtual reality head set. What’s not to like?

Tom Bailey Producer, Shy Camera @bomtailey

NIMBUS

Human owl Chris Watson – of David Attenborough collusions, a weather sounds album named on the Guardian’s hear-before-you-die list, and 80s electro experimentalists Cabaret Voltaire – has perhaps the planet’s keenest ear for the natural world. Made with arts collective The Nimbus Group, his immersive sound app at Lighthouse promises exotic inspiration.

Ben Miller Journalist, Culture24 @fragglemiller

300 SECONDS

Having worked in the digital sector in one capacity or another for over 20 years one thing that’s always bugged me is the lack of women speaking at industry events and conferences. So along came 300 Seconds - a series of lightning talks that acts as a platform for women to develop their confidence in public speaking and share their expertise.

Jenni Lloyd Director, NixonMcInnes @jennilloyd

DCONSTRUCT

Isn’t it great being told ace stories by extremely nice radical illustrious types? If you like a good TEDtalk and get really inspired hearing how others make ideas a reality, you’re gonna freak when you go to dConstruct. Let us all be educated by cool-geeky, funny, dedicated people causing a ruckus. Amen.

Sophie Giblin Founder, Kollektiv Gallery @sophiegoblin

MAKE IT A DIGITAL DAY OUT!

Light/Speed of Sound @ Fabrica Testbed 2013

brightondigitalfestival.co.uk 03

Brighton Digital Festival is a celebration of digital culture. It is organised by members of Brighton’s digital and arts communities.

Coordinated by:

In association with:

Premier Sponsor:

Thanks to our other sponsors, partners and supporters including:

BDF guide teamEditor:

James Kendall

Sub Editor:

Rosie Kendall

Designer:

Bryan Kidd

Festival Manager:

Jesse Black Mooney

Festival Coordinator:

Joey Yvans

Arts Advisor:

Laurence Hill

Education Coordinator:

Donna Comerford

Festival PR:

John Bannister & the team at Fugu PR

#BDF14 GET INVOLVED

What happens as the borders between virtual realities and physical realities start to blur and fuse? Whether it’s the nebulous distinction between our online and offline selves, or the automated transformation of a virtual 3D object into a physical 3D printed one, our lives are paradoxically both complicated and simplified by the ever-increasing prevalence of digital culture.

Brighton Digital Festival is now in its fourth year, and we’re thrilled that the festival continues to offer opportunities for exploration and reflection on the world we live in. This year we are delighted to have commissioned two projects to compliment the festival’s strong education strand and engage more young learners. In addition to our revived Grassroots Fund community awards, we’ve also commissioned six artworks from digital artists that will be shown publicly throughout the festival. They’ll show alongside the richly diverse programme of over a hundred independently organised events that happen across the four weeks of September.

I’m incredibly honoured that the community continues to engage with the festival; without the passion and commitment of literally hundreds of independent organisers who put together events, Brighton Digital Festival could not be the amazing celebration that it is. The on-going support and enthusiasm of the community means Brighton Digital Festival isn’t just a celebration of digital culture, it’s a celebration for the city itself.

American Express® is Premier Sponsor of Brighton Digital Festival 2014.

Katrina Roberts, Vice President, American Express Technology talks about this year’s event:

Why is American Express supporting the Brighton Digital festival?

At American Express we’re excited to be premier sponsor for this year’s Brighton Digital Festival. With over 400 technology employees based in Brighton, it’s a great opportunity for us to continue to play an active part in the Brighton tech community, which is a well-known talent hub for the creative and digital industries.

American Express is better known within the financial services industry, but what has the company done in the technologies space?

We are proud to be involved in exciting partnerships, for example, our relationship with Twitter has allowed Cardmembers to sync their card and tweet special #hashtags to buy American Express Gift Cards and products from a number of merchants. We have also partnered with Trip Advisor to enable Cardmembers to post and read reviews and unlock lists of Cardmember hotspots around the world while getting perks along the way. Most recently we launched a first of its kind experience that brings our world class membership rewards programme to life in Uber, a mobile app connecting riders to drivers.

Which festival events are you most looking forward to?

The 300 Seconds event is something I have a real passion for as it showcases the diverse expertise of women speakers working in digital and technology. Offering mentoring from experienced speakers it encourages women to build skills and confidence and to present in public. There’s something for everyone this year, with so many exciting and creative events taking place across the city throughout September. It promises to be a great celebration of digital culture.

JESSE BLACK MOONEY BRIGHTON DIGITAL FESTIVAL MANAGER

@FRUITINGBODIES

KATRINA ROBERTS VP, AMERICAN EXPRESS TECHNOLOGY

@AMEXUK

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PREVIEWS

THE MEASURES TAKEN

Rising star of British choreography, Alexander Whitley – a South Bank Award nominee 2014 and Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate – brings the Royal Opera House-commissioned The Measures Taken to BDF. A joint work with digital artists Marshmallow Laser Feast, the piece is visually striking and kinetically charged. An exploration of our relationship with technology, it is rooted in collaboration – a dialogue between movement and the digital world.

Location The Old Market £12/£10

Calendar 26 Sep / 19:30

globe brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/measures

I DREAM OF WIRES

From costing as much as a detached house (hello, Fairlight CMI) to becoming near trash, synthesizers have had a fascinating past. With a live introduction by Stephen Mallinder of Cabaret Voltaire, I Dream Of Wires is a hugely entertaining new documentary about the demise and resurgence of these temperamental beasts. Synth heroes such as Gary Numan, Carl Craig and Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor demonstrate their systems and show why they choose to use this volatile yet rewarding technology.

Location St. George’s Kemp Town £7/£6


globe brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/idreamofwires

MY ROBOT COMPANION

An Afternoon with HARR1. How would you feel about a robot caring for you? How do you imagine a future where your relatives would be cared for by robots? Would robot companions aid or increase feelings of loneliness? Join Lorenza Ippolito, Anna Dumitriu and Alex May in conversation to investigate the philosophical and practical questions involving the potential future of social robotics.

Location Fabrica Free


globe brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/harr

DOTS. CONNECTING IDEAS

Innovation happens when things are brought together in fresh ways. Ideas from outside of your field can make a profound impact when brought into step with existing practice. Dots is a conference about sharing and celebrating ideas that have been created by new connections, as well as the people who join them together. Be inspired by speakers including the head of creative agency partnerships at Google, “The Internet of Things” designer, the creative director of gov.uk and 10 more extraordinary innovators.

Location Dukes at Komedia £175

Calendar 03 Sep / 10:00-17:00

globe brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/dots

SPRUNG DIGIDARES YOU

A fun and accessible trail around the city that will get you doing dares and taking photos and videos using the Mapfactor app, which has been developed by SprungDigi, an artist crew of young adults with learning disabilities. The day begins with a briefing at Lighthouse, and continues on to the streets of Brighton, leaving marvellous mayhem in its wake. This event is suitable for disabled and non-disabled people of all ages.

Location Lighthouse Free


globe brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/digidare

LOOPTOPIA: SNEAK PREVIEW

Looptopia is a new breed of multiplayer creative app, where thousands of users can collaborate in real time. You can listen to other users’ tunes and compose a tune of your own with no musical training required. Each piece of music becomes a permanent feature of the landscape, as Looptopia gets filled with beautiful melodies. Looptopia is open for a public beta throughout September before the official launch on the 27th, at which they promise “a night of music, decadence, and digital wonder”.

Location Online Free

Calendar 01–28 Sep

globe brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/looptopia

LIGHTHOUSE @ #BDF14

The central theme running through Lighthouse’s programme, Visibility Is A Trap, is a visceral response to the tension between the tendency to share our lives in public, and our desire and right for more privacy.

Our programme brings together an international community of artists, thinkers and makers, to share and experience groundbreaking art and ideas of the present. From Jordan to Sweden, the Netherlands to Iraq, and Russia to the UK, this year’s band of critical creatives shares an ethos and an energy to play with the present and make for the future.

At our annual conference Improving Reality, artists Holly Herndon, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Jananne Al-Ani and Susan Schuppli will reflect on the unexpected effects of technology: leading thinkers Nathan Jurgenson, Metahaven and John Armitage will look under the hood of social media; cultural advocate and whistleblower Nadia El-Imam will reveal new patterns.

Our major exhibition will present the timely work Newstweek – Fact Fixing Bureau by critical engineers Julian Oliver and Danja Vasiliev in a new installation. Newstweek switches the power balance between news organisations and citizens, giving visitors to the installation the chance to manipulate the facts or just troll for the ‘lulz’. The work blatantly shines a searchlight on the vulnerability of the new informational ecosystem of journalism, and questions, importantly, how we use our devices and media in our daily lives.

Other highlights include Popathon Hack Jam; demos and prototypes of web-native storytelling for filmmakers, technologists and designers; and a rare sound performance by Chris Watson (BBC Natural History Unit/Cabaret Voltaire) for the launch of the new app by The Nimbus Group.

ARTS AND TECH COMMISSIONS

From small domestic robots to big questions about how future historians will ‘read’ our present. Showing in empty shops, the streets, galleries – even in unused spaces, public spaces, online spaces – the six arts and tech commissions for the 2014 festival offer fascinating insight into the state of digital art right now.

Hidden Lines is a kinetic video and light installation by Oliver Hein that will bring to life an empty shop space in the heart of the city, creating a moment of poetry and light for passersby.

In Revolution #10, sound artist, Joseph Young, takes to the streets of Brighton with a sound installation – a collage of recordings of the people of the city creating their own community manifesto in the run up to next year’s elections.

The New Digital Architects is a project by speculative designers Marcel Helmer and Henrik Nieratschker, exploring the idea that with our present increasingly mediated by machines, future historians may only find limited material from our current society.

Shrinking Space: Mind’s Eye takes the audience on a walk through the solar system, guided by interviews with space engineers and technicians working on ‘live’ missions such as Rosetta, the first mission to chase, orbit and land a probe on a comet.

In Undercurrent, a new work by Natalie Kane and Coralie Gourguechon, a wall of paper speakers responds to the movement of visitors by playing the ‘hidden’ sounds of our every day – among them the hum of computer fans and the steady tick of servers.

Interstice is a work by Alex Peckham – a transparent, luminous sculpture creating a melody based on the human genome that would take centuries to play to the end. Where Interstice is about life and its finite nature, a second new work being made in response to it is about the infinite, about space.

Holly Herndon, speaker at Improving Reality 2014

JUHA VAN ‘T ZELFDE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, LIGHTHOUSE

@JUHAVANTZELFDE

LAURENCE HILL ARTISTS ADVISOR, BRIGHTON DIGITAL FESTIVAL

@LAURENCEHILL


ELECTRIC BIROA “WLTM/ake” for artists, designers, musicians, makers and technologists to meet, make and collaborate.



MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT FOR BUSINESSESA free drop-in focusing on mobile applications for business.

Location The Dock Hub Free


WHAT’S ON?Listings correct at time of writing

ALL MONTHSun 1st – Mon 28th Sept

CICI BLUMSTEIN & THE LUCKY FROG PRESENT: CROAKING DRAIN, HIDDEN FROGComing to a drain near you... Agent Amphibian will be listening and recording on the streets of Brighton throughout September.

Location Streets of Brighton Free

Calendar 01-28 Sep

LOOPTOPIA: SNEAK PREVIEWLooptopia is a 3D world inhabited by the music loving Looptopians. Preview the app before it launches on 27th September.


Calendar 01-28 Sep

LITTLE BO BEEP HAS LOST HER (DIGITAL) SHEEP Discover the animation work of BANG! by tracking down Sheep QR codes hidden around the city.


Calendar 01-28 Sep

GEO-WRITINGThe location-based writing extravaganza returns for Brighton Digital Festival 2014.


Calendar 01-28 Sep

THE HIDDEN WEB Hidden within reality is a layer of digital information. Solve the puzzles that change the way you see the world, forever.


Calendar 01-28 Sep

MIND OF THE CITYImagine Brighton are using social media tracking technology to visualise the mood of the city throughout BDF14.

Location Check website. Free

Calendar 01-28 Sep

NEWSTWEEK – FACT FIXING BUREAUBerlin-based artists Julian Oliver and Danja Vasiliev transform Lighthouse’s gallery into a News Fixing Bureau and invite visitors to set their own news agendas.


Calendar 03-28 Sep / 11:00-18:00

BRIGHTON RECALLNew Writing South will be mapping out the stories of Brighton using HistoryPin.

Location The Writers’ Place Free

Calendar Every Tue / 18:00-21:00

REMIX THE MUSEUMBrighton Youth Film Festival team up with animator Dave Packer to remix the museum’s collections.

Location Brighton Museum Free & Gallery

Calendar Tue-Sun from 06 Sep / 10:00-17:00

SIX STORIESA video installation featuring older people talking about their thoughts on life and death.

Location Cornerstone Free Community Centre

Calendar Weekends from 13 Sep / 09:30

BLOCKBUILDERS - CREATE YOUR FUTURE TODAYTired of adults making all the decisions in your town? Now it’s your turn to have a say.

Location Jubilee Library £10

Calendar 13, 20, 27 Sep / 13:15 and 15:15

CYMATIC RESPONSECymatic Response creates a unique illuminating sonic art show exhibited as part of The New Sublime.

Location Phoenix Brighton Free

Calendar Wed-Sun from 06 Sep / 11:00-17:00

WEEK 11st – 7th Sept

REASONS TO BE CREATIVEConference for web designers, coders and anyone with a creative mind.

Location Brighton Dome £349

Calendar 01-03 Sep / 10:00

COMPUTING - A TALK FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTSArtist Andre Lichtenberg projects A practical talk on the new computing curriculum aimed at teachers and parents.

Location 68 Middle Street Free


BRIGHTON ALT NETA show-n-tell from Brighton software developers. Drop in and see their work on display.

Location The Skiff Free


DOTS. CONNECTING IDEASConference about sharing and celebrating ideas that have been created by connecting things in new ways.

Location Dukes at Komedia £175

Calendar 03 Sep / 10:00-17:00

MY ROBOT COMPANION - AN AFTERNOON WITH HARR1A conversation event aimed at older audiences considers the present and future of robotics.



BAM! COMICS’N’COMPUTERSA digital comics workshop exploring the pros and cons of putting comics online.

Location New Writing South Free

Calendar 03, 25 Sep / 18:00

IMPROVING REALITY - VISIBILITY IS A TRAPLighthouse’s leading digital culture conference returns for its fourth year.

Location Brighton Dome £20/£10 Studio Theatre


OSC BRIGHTON DIGITAL FESTIVALA monthly meet-up where enthusiastic musicians come to chat about their projects.

Location The Brunswick Pub Free


BEYOND THE BRIGHT BLACK EDGE OF NOWHEREThe story of a bizarre mass disappearance told through clips of 1950s B-movies and a live electronic score.



DCONSTRUCTA one-day conference with supersmart people who will provoke, entertain and stimulate you.

Location Brighton Dome £150


NICK PYNN & KATE DAISY GRANTAn evening of live-looped, multi-instrumental, original music from two talented musicians.



BRIGHTON MINI MAKER FAIREThe family festival of creativity and invention. Back for a fourth year, it promises to be bigger and better than ever. Free for under 16s.

Location Brighton Dome £8/£6/ Corn Exchange (Kids Free)


FEELING SENSING PERCEIVING WORKSHOP: TECHNOLOGY & THE SENSING BODYAn experimental, practical workshop, exploring our sensory field with sense-responsive technology.

Location Phoenix Brighton £35/£25

Calendar 06 Sep / 12:00-18:00

WEEK 28th – 14th Sept

UX BRIGHTON CAREER CLINIC: SUPERCHARGE YOUR UX CAREERGet careers advice from local UX practitioners. Ideal for UX students, graduates and junior practitioners.



I DREAM OF WIRESA film screening of the hugely entertaining documentary about the demise and resurgence of the modular synthesizer.

Location St. George’s £6/£7 Kemp Town


BTN ETSY: TACTILE CRAFT IN A DIGITAL WORLDHow do we share our tangible products through a digital world? Join Etsy experts for talks and debate.

Location The Old Market Free


BRIGHT ON TRAVEL - PERSONALISING YOUR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCEConference focusing on personalis-tion in the online travel industry.

Location The Old Courtroom Free


BITCOIN, RELATED TECHNOLOGIES AND THE LOCAL ECONOMYCould local businesses and consumers benefit from the use of bitcoin? This session will investigate bitcoin’s place in the local economy.



THE ACID LIVEMysterious trio bring their soulful music and interactive audio-visual live show to Brighton.

Location The Haunt £10


MCNEIL & PAMPHIL ON GO 8-BIT!Comedy goes 8-bit in this video game-themed comedy night.

Location Caroline of £10/ Brunswick £6.50


BRIGHTON SEOBrighton’s famous search conference is back, with a day of training workshops followed by a one-day conference.

Location Brighton Dome £400/ £350


GCLOUD COMES TO BRIGHTONSpeakers Tony Singleton and Stephen Allott explore what’s behind the SME programme, Gcloud and the Digital Marketplace.

Location TBC- check website £30


MANAGING INNOVATION: TASTER AND INNOVATION CLINICA practical two-hour taster workshop identifying best practices in sucessful business innovation.

Location Clearleft Free


IMPROV FOR PROFESSIONAL CREATIVITY: A WORKSHOP FOR DIGITAL AND IT PROFESSIONALSAn exciting workshop where you will learn how improv can enhance your professional creativity.

Location Matchbox Mobile Free


FUSEBOX SESSION #9: EXITING A BUSINESSPart of the FuseBox24 start-up programme. Learn what it’s like to exit a business via selling, merging or the IPO model.

Location The FuseBox Free


NIMBUS BY THE NIMBUS GROUPNimbus is a free immersive ‘sonic paintbox’ app featuring Chris Watson’s sound recordings of the natural world.



PORTRAITAn interaction between artist Katy Pendlebury, a camera and her projected image.

Location University of Free Brighton

Calendar 11-13 Sep / Various - see website.

ASYNC - ROBOCODE ROYAL RUMBLEArtists and coders are asked to join in for a two-part hackathon and pit their robo-tanks against each other in a battle royale.



STARTING A NEW BUSINESS?In this talk BrightMinded will share their experience on running a business day-to-day using online tools.



PERSISTENT PERIL VS PAUL HAYES: “DARK RIDE”Experience Persistent Peril’s ‘Dark Ride’ by putting on Oculus Rift virtual reality goggles. Also featuring talks, workshops and frozen yogurt.

Location Lick Warehouse Free


AUGMENTED REALITY SCULPTURE WORKSHOP WITH LEON BARKERAn exciting two-day workshop teaching you how to create 3D virtual models using Maya and Unity software.

Location Phoenix Brighton £££

Calendar 13-14 Sep / 11:30-17:30

WEEK 315th – 21st Sept

REFRAMEDA day of talks exploring how digital tools can enable filmmakers and other content producers to tell stories and engage audiences.

Location Lighthouse £15/£10 Calendar 15 Sep / 10:00–18:00

TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY BOARD INFORMATION DAYFind out what funds are available through the Technology Strategy Board for creative and digital businesses.



YOUTUBE MARKETING FOR CREATIVE START-UPS BY ORAMA.TVAre you a creative start-up interested in getting your videos seen? Join this workshop to learn how to make an impact on YouTube.

Location TBC £5


CODEBAR - INTRODUCTION TO HARDWARE EDITIONA biweekly coding and website development workshop aimed at women, LGBTQ and people otherwise under-represented.

Location Madgex Free


WARNING: CONTAINS NERDITYA show that proudly shuns analogue for digital, rejects dialup for broadband, and puts the .com into .comedy.

Location The Old Market £12.50


LASER LIGHT SYNTHS Become a musician for one night with Laser Light Synths - the music and light show that you control. This new interactive musical extravaganza will let you become the band, and turn New Road’s Unitarian Church into a laser light spectacular. Laser Light Synths is the latest project from Seb Lee-Delisle, the local award-winning digital artist who drew crowds to Brighton during BDF 2013 with his PixelPyros digital fireworks display.

Location Brighton Unitarian Church Calendar 06 Sep / 20:00globe brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/laserlight Free

POPATHON HACK JAM Popathon invites filmmakers, technologists and designers to collaborate on storytelling projects that can only exist on the web. For one weekend you team up to brainstorm ideas, create open-source code and demo prototypes of your own web-native stories. This special edition of Popathon is presented in partnership with Lighthouse and Mozilla.

Location Lighthouse Calendar 12-13 Sep / Various - see website.

globe brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/popathon £15/£20/£30

THE NEW SUBLIMECan art which uses digital technology move us in the same sustained way as other forms of contemporary art? The New Sublime 2014 is conceived and curated by artists whose work and interests span digital and traditional approaches to fine art. Now in its second year, it features new work by some of the most innovative artists working in the field.


Calendar Wed-Sun from 06 Sep / 11:00-17:00globe brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/ newsublime

B.FEST YOUNG INVENTORS CENTRE ‘LIVE’Digital event for young people aged 13-19yrs. Expect live music, coding, 3D printing & 3D scanning workshops, film and virtual reality.

Location BYC Brighton Free Youth Centre


FOR FULL LISTINGS CHECK BRIGHTONDIGITALFESTIVAL.CO.UK

THE FABRICA TESTBED - LUCY STEGGALSArtist Lucy Stegalls tests, plays with and explores the story of Mr Snake in a four day mini-residency at Fabrica.



DIGITAL DEMOCRACY COMMISSION WORKSHOPA dynamic workshop for young people exploring digital technology and democratic rights. Hosted by Caroline Lucas MP, Wired Sussex and others.

Location TBC Invite only


300 SECONDS BRIGHTON DIGITAL FESTIVAL EDITIONA lightning talk event which showcases the diverse expertise of women speakers in digital and technology fields.

Location Sallis Benney Theatre Free


STAND-UP COMEDY AND IMPROV PRESENTATION SKILLS - A WORKSHOP FOR DIGITAL AND IT PROFESSIONALSA practical workshop for IT professionals drawing on comedy and improv to improve presentation skills.



SLASH/NIGHTAn evening of slash fiction featuring talks and readings from Chris Parkinson, Muffy Hunter and James Burt.

Location Komedia: Studio £6


LET’S GET REAL CONFERENCEA conference for people working in cultural organisations focusing on using digital technology to engage with the audience.

Location Brighton Dome £149 Studio Theatre


BUILDING TRUST ONLINEJoin the conversation about building trust in the sceptical age of the internet with Macmillan Cancer Support.

Location The Blue Man Free


QUICK STRIPSTwelve of Brighton’s brightest graphic novelists strip off in five minutes to show you how they use their kit.

Location Latest Music Bar Free


HOW TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL TECH START-UPThis evening will help you get your tech business idea off the ground with talks, workshops and advice.



BRIGHTON DIGITAL KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP 201410 teams, 40 drivers in a 90 minute non-stop indoor go-kart endurance race. No blue shells allowed.

Location Teamsport £47.25


MUSIC // VIDEO // SHORTSA screening of music videos made by film-makers experimenting with new techniques in narrative and visual effects.

Location TBC - check website. Free


WIRELESS-FIDELITYTake a new data sonification device to the streets and hear the invisible network infrastructure that permeates the city.

Location Univerity of Brighton Free - Dorset Place Gallery


POP UP ARCADEA pop up games space opening up gaming culture to a wider audience, and supporting the local indie game community.

Location Lick Warehouse Free

Calendar 19-21 Sep / 11:00-18:00

SELF EXPLANATORYA collaborative, immersive, multi-sensory interactive projection and installation/performance using video feeds and MIDI controllers.

Location TBC - check website. Free


FUSEBOX JUMPMeet Brighton’s latest wave of fused innovators and start-ups at the finale of the FuseBox24 start-up programme.

Location The FuseBox Free


TALENT SLAMTalent Slam will be a showcase by students for students, parents, teachers, creatives, artists and digital folk.

Location Friends Free Meeting House


ARCHAEOLOGY GOES 3DEver wanted to play with a Neolithic hand axe on an iPad? Drop-in and discover a whole new dimension in archaeology.

Location Brighton Museum Free & Gallery

Calendar 20 Sep / 12:00–16:00

KUROI CUBEA one-night installation and video games tournament challenging what it means to be a spectator and a participant.


Calendar 20 Sep / 17:00-00:00

BRING YOUR OWN BEAMERA night of collaborative moving image, projection, participation and experimentation.

Location Brighton Dome Free Corn Exchange


CONNECTIVE CULTURE @ TOWNERConnective Culture joins together schools, cultural organisations and the creative digital industry in Eastbourne.

Location Towner Free

Calendar 20-28 Sep / 10:00-18:00

BRIGHTON DIGITAL MARKETING FESTIVAL Brighton Digital Marketing Festival returns for its fourth year and this year’s festival boasts a better line up than ever. With industry-leading keynote speakers from SmartInsights and the Financial Times, followed by insightful workshops, there will be something for everyone to take back to the office to improve their marketing skills. All proceeds go to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Location Brighton Dome Corn Exchange Calendar 18 Sep / 08:30

globe brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/bdmf £50 donation

CREATIVE, DIGITAL AND IT OPEN STUDIOS If you’re looking for insights into the digital industries then this five-day collection of talks, workshops, and networking will be fascinating. Get a sneak peek of what goes on behind the scenes at some of Brighton & Hove’s most creative and innovative companies as Wired Sussex members throw open their doors for five days to help demystify what companies actually do.

Location Various - check website Calendar 22-25 Sep / Various - see website.

globe brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/open Free

REMIX THE MUSEUM FAMILY DAY See Brighton Museum like you’ve never seen it before, as the Brighton Youth Film Festival teams up with animator Dave Packer and a team of young creators as they present a visual remix of the museum’s collections. Bring objects in Brighton Museum’s collection to life with animation, create new objects with 3D printing, and explore your own stories during Remix The Museum’s Family Day.

Location Brighton Museum and Gallery

Calendar 27 Sep / 14:30globe brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/ remix Free

PROJECT: OGGBOTS!Solve clues, meet strange characters and take part in an immersive adventure in electronic skullduggery.

Location Various Free

Calendar 20, 21 Sep / Various - see website

PEBBLE GORGE - YOU’RE GETTING WARMERArmed with a smartphone, embark on an outdoor adventure exploring the effects of climate change.

Location Brighton Dome Free


WEEK 422nd – 30th Sept

FLEXER & SANDILAND: GRAVITY SHIFTA video installation that aims to de-centre the viewer’s relationship to gravity through witnessing a dancer’s movement.

Location Brighton Dome £12.50 Founders Room


DIGITAL CONTENT STRATEGY FOR BUSINESS GROWTHLearn what digital marketing is, and how to create a practical strategy for your business.

Location Sussex County £35/£29 Cricket Ground


MATT PARKER: NOW IN 4D!Award winning maths comedian and Rubik’s Cube world record holder Matt Parker is on tour again, this time in 4D.

Location The Old Market £12.50 /£10.50


ECOMMERCE – HOW TO MAKE YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS INTERNATIONALBrighton Chamber of Commerce bring you a half-day seminar on how to start and succeed in your international expansion plans.

Location Jury’s Inn £25


THE ART OF DATA BY STEFANIE POSAVECData artist Stefanie Posavec talks about her unique approach to visualising data, including hand-crafted visualisations of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road.



DANCE ON SCREEN: PAST, PRESENT, FUTUREThe première screening of a documentary tracing the journey of seminal British dance on screen.

Location Brighton Dome Free Cafe Bar


RUMTOPF/001 – CONNECT_ICUT + MEATBREAK + MEARCSTAPAA night of beautiful live electronic noise, featuring Vancouver’s Connect_icut, Brighton’s Meatbreak and Austria’s Mearcstapa.

Location The Prince Albert £8/£10


FRÉDÉRIC DESLIAS / LE CLAIR OBSCUR: GØL4M [PREVIEW]Le Clair Obscur presents an all-encompassing piece which blurs the lines between man, his environment, flesh and silicon.

Location Brighton Dome £6 Corn Exchange


ARE WE ALL JOURNALISTS NOW?Guest speaker Aidan White will explore the growth of digital technology and proliferation of ‘citizen journalism’.

Location The Mesmerist Free


IT FOR IMPROVERSPerfect for building on your skills using Word, the internet and email. This course is ideal for those who have a little computer experience.

Location The Bridge £10 Community Education Centre


SHESAYS BRIGHTON Speakers include Caroline Lucas MP, Katy Beale of Caper, Joan Farrer of University of Brighton and Rosa Fox of Codebar

Location Sallis Benney Theatre Free


FLASH LIT FICTION CINEMAAn experimental evening of live lit and flash fiction on screen.

Location Phoenix Brighton £4/£3


DANCE DOUBLE BILLGoogle Rise Awardee Readysaltedcode have created and produced this performance with support from Google and an award from Arts Council England.

Location Brighton Dome £10/ Studio Theatre £7.50


IT FOR BEGINNERSIf you’re nervous about entering the digital age this course is perfect for you. For complete beginners.

Location The Bridge £10 Community Education Centre


SPRUNG DIGIDARES YOU!Marvellous mayhem in the streets of Brighton using the Mapfactor app, developed by the SprungDigi artist crew.



TRANSMUTE: A PERFORMANCE EVENT A night of digital mutation and technological transfiguration featuring performances, interventions, talks and shared learning.

Location Phoenix Brighton £6


THE MEASURES TAKENLeading choreographer Alexander Whitley presents a visually striking and kinetically charged dialogue between movement and the digital world.



START-UP WEEKEND BRIGHTON EDUTest your start-up ideas with real potential customers and receive coaching from experienced education entrepreneurs & industry professionals.

Location St. John’s College £60/£40


DANCE HACK: UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON AND SOUTH EAST DANCE12 artists and technologists are invited to come together to experiment and play with movement and creative technology.

Location University of Brighton Free

Calendar 27 Sep / 10:00-19:00

GUERRILLA VIDEO ART WORKSHOPAn exciting Guerrilla Video Art workshop with award winning video artist Álvaro Collar.

Location Phoenix Brighton £75

Calendar 27-28 Sep / 11:30-17:30

[ARRA]STRE TECH PLAY GROUND – MOZILLA MAKER PARTYLearn and play at the [arra]stre Tech Playground. Demos, hands-on or just roam around.



American Express is proud to support Brighton Digital Festival

LOOP.COOP PRESENT: THE LOOPTOPIAN LAUNCHLoop.Coop bring you a night of music, decadence and digital wonder with the launch event for their app Looptopia.

Location The FuseBox £5/£3

Calendar 27 Sep / 19:00-03:00

KAFKA CHICA newly commissioned play designed to be listened to on digital radios at various cafés around the city.

Location Various - Free check website


FAU>TY EXPERIMENTAL SOUND & AVFAU>TY Experimental Sound & AV returns for 2014 with Brighton’s best homegrown and further flung artists and musicians who make sounds digitally.

Location Upstairs Free @ Fitzherberts


EMBEDDING INNOVATION - MOVING IDEAS INTO ACTIONThis one-day workshop focuses on developing the skills to manage innovative initiatives effectively.



GADGET WISEIs your new gadget driving you mad? Come along to this drop in session and see if it can help.

Location The Bridge Free Community Education Centre



LIVING IN THE NETWORKDIGITAL IS REPLACING ANALOGUE ON ALMOST EVERY LEVEL. AS #BDF14 COMES ROUND WE’RE STARTING TO ASK TOUGHER QUESTIONS - HAVE WE BEEN NAIVE?

JEREMY KEITH OF CLEARLEFT

A digital festival is an odd thing. What kind of event qualifies for inclusion in a digital festival? What exactly does “digital” mean? As with the infamous Supreme Court ruling on obscenity, “digital” can best be described as “I know it when I see it.”

Even a few years ago, it would have been easier to demarcate the line that separates the digital from everything else; if it starts life in a computer, then it’s digital. These days, that’s not a very useful distinction. There’s very little around us that didn’t start life in a computer—even the solid, tangible objects that we think of as being “analogue”.

As with digital, so with the network. There was a time when the internet was a separate place. You went online. Now the internet pervades all our activities. There is decreasing separation between online and offline. And, as with digital, there is very little in the world around us that hasn’t been touched by the network at some point.

If we were to have had a digital festival during the last decade, it would have been an overwhelmingly positive—perhaps even naive—affair. New tools, new creative opportunities, whole new publishing platforms with wonderfully low barriers to entry; what’s not to love? But the past few years have brought unwanted consolidation to the network—what Bruce Sterling refers to as “the stacks”—Facebook, Google, Apple, the giants of the digital world, wielding immense, unchecked power.

The truth revealed by Edward Snowdon is that the same digital tools that can amplify creativity and personal expression are also being used as weapons of mass surveillance. It’s still our network, but now it feels a little less like a playground and a little more like a panopticon.

It’s this new digital world that will be explored by the digerati speaking at the dConstruct conference—always a highlight of the Brighton Digital Festival. Writers like Warren Ellis and Cory Doctorow will be tackling the theme of this year’s dConstruct,

“Living With The Network.” It will be thought provoking, perhaps even a little frightening. But it will also be entertaining.

There’s going to be plenty of entertainment on offer throughout the festival. Whether it’s urban games played through mobile phones, hands-on hacking at Maker Faire, art installations, dance performances, concerts, workshops, or slash fiction readings, there’s something for everyone this year.

Perhaps there really isn’t much point in trying to define what “digital” means. As William Gibson said, the thing our descendants

will find most quaint and old-fashioned about us is the trouble we still take to make that distinction, between the digital and the “real.”

Even if we can’t define the damn thing, the Brighton Digital Festival is still a cause for celebration. For all the wonders and benefits that the network has brought us, we humans still crave the opportunity to gather together in the same physical space. When that physical space happens to be in the vibrant seaside town of Brighton… well then, all the better!

Whether it’s the historical surroundings of the Brighton Dome and the Old Market, co-working spaces like The Skiff, arts venues like Phoenix Brighton, or community spaces like Lighthouse and 68 Middle Street, Brighton has a wealth of wonderful venues for us to gather in this September. As much as I like living my life on the internet, I’m grateful that I also live in Brighton. It’s the perfect place for a digital festival …whatever that means.

JEREMY KEITH WIELDER OF THE FLAME OF ARNOR, CLEARLEFT

@ADACTIO

we humans still crave the opportunity to

gather together in the same physical space

that distinction, between the digital

and the “real.”

Independently organised events are at the heart of Brighton Digital Festival and have always included a strong education strand within the programme – events and workshops engaging with the public, and utilising digital technologies to enable new ways of learning. Digital music tools, 3D printing, games development and design, and animation have all been used to engage and inspire young learners, alongside idea generation and start-up culture, architecture and urban prototyping, and video and film making.

B.fest: Young Inventors Centre Live is a digital event presented by Exploring Senses and BYC (Brighton Youth Club), for young people aged 13 to 19. Expect live music and coding, 3D printing and 3D scanning workshops (courtesy of 3Dify), virtual and augmented reality experiences with Blockbuilders, interactive puppet animations and robotics, electronic instruments making workshops, and so much more.

OggBots is a huge city-wide treasure hunt to solve the mystery of the aliens in the event’s name. Solve clues, meet strange characters and take part in an immersive adventure in electronic skullduggery. It’s life Jim, but not as we know it! Bought to you by MakerClub, an educational technology company that works with teachers and innovators to devise awesome maker projects. They aim to foster invention, increase attainment and put a smile on people’s faces.

The Brighton Digital Festival is a celebration of the digital world, but it’s also a celebration of Brighton. So we brought together three of the city’s most successful companies in the digital sector to examine the landscape of Brighton and give their insight into the fusion that the city encourages between digital business and creative enterprise.

× What makes Brighton such a strong hub for digital, creative, and tech companies?

w Abi: I would say that the fact that Brighton is such a creative and diverse place with excellent links to universities, is a key reason that Brighton is a strong digital hub. We also have a vibrant community that shares knowledge and meets up regularly which helps to attract like for like companies. Finally you have a history of digital events such as BrightonSEO, UX Brighton, the BDF and Brighton Digital Marketing Festival, which brings people down from London.

w Anthony: I think it comes down to concentrated diversity. We’re a small city with an intense mix of people with different outlooks, backgrounds and skills. Someone called Brighton a “culture of extremes” – politically it sways from Tory to Green, while in arts the Brighton Early Music Festival happens even as new indie bands pioneer new sounds. Radical new ideas and businesses thrive here.

w Katja: Aside from its proximity to the sea, beach life, and living in a city people visit to holiday and end up staying, Brighton has a deep personality which is conducive to creative and progressive minds. It is eccentric, diverse, experimental, artistic and tolerant. It is also compact, so everyone talks to each other. You can connect and bump into people very easily.

× Is Brighton’s rich cultural landscape a benefit for attracting young talent?

w Abi: Of course. Creative people want knowledge and culture to inspire them, both in and outside of the workplace. They want to work with other like-minded and talented people in a buzzing city where there is plenty to do.

w Anthony: Oh yes, and for attracting older talent too. Culture in all its forms can be found here. In the arts, science, technology, sport and politics, there are so many people exploring new ideas. Proximity to the oddness of Sussex culture – hello Lewes! – and the global powerhouse of London also add to its cultural life.

w Katja: We have several universities and colleges, and proof is that graduates stay on. We also have some cool ambassadors for Brighton who live here, Fatboy Slim, Nick Cave and Julie Burchill amongst others.

× What are the most important factors in ensuring Brighton continues to support local industry?

w Abi: Talent is key and with the cost of commuting on the rise, businesses have to work twice as hard if they are looking for talent from London. We need to make sure that there are strong links with universities and local industry so the talent that is grown here stays local.

w Anthony: Also Brighton needs faster broadband for all. Local and central government should be challenging monopolistic and bureaucratic instincts of big telcos. Recently my home broadband was at least ten times faster than BT could offer my office in the centre of Brighton. Action is needed.

w Katja: Affordable housing is extremely important, or wages need to be higher to reflect how expensive it is to live here. More central Brighton office spaces would be helpful. There needs to be a drive to put Brighton on the map globally.

It is eccentric, diverse, experimental, artistic

and tolerant

Brighton needs faster broadband for all

DIGITAL EDUCATION COMMISSIONS

MakerClub @ the FuseBox, Brighton

DONNA COMERFORD DIGITAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR, BRIGHTON DIGITAL FESTIVAL

@DONNACOMERFORD

ABI JACKS HEAD OF MARKETING, PURE360

@PURE360

ANTONY MAYFIELD FOUNDING PARTNER & CEO, BRILLIANT NOISE

@AMAYFIELD

KATJA GARROOD CREATIVE DIRECTOR, BRANDWATCH

@PUPPA


DONNA CLOSE HEAD OF ARTS AT BHCC

@DONNA_CLOSE

The Brighton Digital Festival brings together two of the most significant characteristics of the city – the vibrant arts and creative community and the thriving digital and tech sector. But for me it is the Grassroots programme that most reflects the city.

The range and reach of the projects is impressive especially given the limited resources requested: the creators range from high concept artists to educators to cooperatives and associations. The target participants include young people, women and the over

60s. It’s a timely reminder of what can be achieved given scant resources but imagination and collaboration.

LITTLE BO BEEPBo Beep is recruiting and she needs the people of Brighton & Hove to become her digital shepherds. Brighton Animators Network Group (BANG!), in collaboration with creative digital studio RamJam, present Little Bo Beep Has Lost Her (Digital) Sheep – a free, QR code‑hunting community game with animations and art for prizes.

Location Throughout Brighton

Free

Calendar 01‑28 Sep

FEELING SENSING PERCEIVINGArtists Kate Genevieve and performer Rachel Blackman collaborate to investigate the human sensory field, working with the body and sense‑responsive technology.

Location Phoenix Brighton

£35.00


UX BRIGHTON CAREER CLINICAimed at giving advice to UX students, graduates, junior practitioners, UX Brighton gives careers advice from local user experience practitioners.

Location Fabrica

Free


WIRELESS-FIDELITYWireless‑Fidelity is a device that creates a generative sound‑experience based on wifi signals, making music that unfolds as you wander along the streets of Brighton.

Location Dorset Place Gallery

Free

Calendar 18‑21 Sep / Various

BRING YOUR OWN BEAMERFind a space, invite artists with a projector, beam digital art. The idea is simple but the outcome is a creative free‑for‑all of light and colour.

Location Corn Exchange

Free


300 SECONDS300 Seconds tackles head on the important aim of getting more women speaking at tech and digital conferences worldwide. The special BDF edition of this popular lightning talk event will showcase a diverse expertise of women speakers in digital and technology fields.

Location Sallis Benney Theatre

Free


BLOCKBUILDERSUsing the digital sensation of the last few years, Minecraft, this event will show you how to work as a group and come up with ideas for the future of your town. It will teach kids how to work within a team of other like‑minded young makers to form brilliant ideas and opinions about the future of their town. Best of all you’ll be able to look at your creation through an Oculus Rift!

Location Jubilee Library

£10.00

Calendar 13, 20, 27 Sep / 13:15 and 15:15

KUROI CUBEKuroi Cube is a video game tournament taken to the next level – a combination of video game culture with video and performance art.

Location Phoenix Brighton

Free

Calendar 20 Sep / 17:00 TALENT SLAMTalent Slam is a showcase of digital video, blogging, game design, augmented reality and more by students for students, parents, teachers and creatives.

Location Friends Meeting House

Free


SIX STORIESArtists David Parker and Paul Senior have collaborated with a group of older people for Six Stories. These manifest as a video installation that aims to present an intimate exchange of stories and voices, revealing a view of life as an accumulation of past experiences. Literally life and death stuff.

Location Cornerstone Community Centre

Free

Calendar 13‑14, 20‑21, 27‑28 Sep / 09:30 ‑ 17:00

GRASSROOTS FUND 2014


The start of something great. Say hello to tech innovation at American Express ®.

We’re recruiting in Brighton.Visit us at careers.americanexpress.com/tech

brighton digital festival 2014 guide

Documents

brighton digital festival

digital sector

laser light spectacular

brighton mini maker

predigital age

spectacular laser light

laser cutters

bdf programme