Arts Connect: Digital Pick and Mix
Digital Pick and Mix is Arts Connects umbrella title for the digital aspect of our programme. On this website you can access information on past and present events, bursary opportunities, research and development and resources.
Digital is an important part of our programme and we aim to support the arts and cultural sector through developing and sharing digital practice with an aim to increase opportunities for and, engagement with, children and young people.
To find out more about Arts Connects wider programme please go to the More Information section.
Events & Bursaries
Find out about our digital events and bursaries past and present
DIGITAL PICK AND MIX
March 2020
Date: Thursday 5th March 2020
Time: 9.30am – 3.30pm
Venue: Midlands Arts Centre (MAC)
Join us for this digital development day where practitioners and organisations from across the Midlands share their digital insights, research and development and projects.
You will be able to learn about new ways of using digital technologies to engage children, young people and family audiences in arts and cultural activities from music with K’antu Ensemble, dance with Mercurial Dance and outdoor Theatre with Imagineer Productions.
Inspired by Arts Connect’s approach to developing digital innovation and risk taking by the cultural sector through our digital bursaries. The Mighty Creatives (East Midlands) commissioned digital R&D projects and the successful arts and cultural organisations will present on the day including Nottingham Contemporary, Quad and National Holocaust Centre.
The day will be headlined by a keynote speaker (to be announced soon).
Attendees will also take part in our on-masse hands on digital activity, Escape Games, led by John Sear. Escape Games have been hugely successful in attracting new audiences looking for new experiences. Yet few cultural institutes have explored their potential. Come and play a pop-up escape game (originally built with a small budget in 24 hours) and learn how you create them yourself for your venues using your own content and stories.
Tickets available here
ARTS CONNECT & BOM PRESENT A DIGITAL PICK AND MIX October 2019
Date: 17 October 2019
Time: 9.30am-1pm
Venue: Birmingham Open Media (BOM)
- John Sear – Escape room/ A Moment of Madness – fusing theatre, digital and the city
- Ben Neal – Digital Pinball Machine
- Rosa Hinksman – Brain monitoring and facial recognition
- Edie Jo Murray – Using VR experiences to make Arts experiences accessible
DIGITAL PICK AND MIX CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 2018
Date: 22 November 2018
Time: 9am-5pm
Venue: Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Join us for the day in exploring digital in the arts and cultural sector. The event will comprise of digital sessions including Sound Design with Thor McIntyre Bruce from Aswarm, Light Design and Installation with Musson&Retallick, hands on practical session exploring low cost tech with Ashley Brown and Louise Latter and John Sears from Birmingham Open Media delve into our relationship with DATA and how we can create DIY Digital Interactives.
The day will also contain presentations from this years’ Arts Connect digital research and development recipients. (more details of R&D projects here)
Across the day sessions and speakers will provide delegates with a detailed look into the digital world and how digital is used artistically, commercially and promotionally across sectors.
DIGITAL BURSARIES 2018
Arts Connect are delighted to announce the recipients of this years R&D bursaries.
The bursary is designed to support research and development in the field of creative digital practice with children and young people. This years recipients are; Dudley Canal & Tunnel Trust, Craft Space, Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust, Heritage & Culture Warwickshire (HCW) Archives and Rosie Kay Dance Company.
Find out more here: Arts Connect 2018 R&D summaries
DIGITAL BURSARIES 2017
In 2017 Arts Connect commissioned 3 bursaries for Digital Research and Development. These were awarded to:
Coventry Libraries and Information Service Can augmented reality improve digital literacy among Children aged 8-11 years old?
Ruth Hopkins – K’antu Ensemble Which technology and digital practice can support learning through music in SEND schools? And how can young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) truly access the digital world?
Birmingham Royal Ballet An examination of the role and impact that Augmented Reality can have on digital engagement in cultural activity for young people aged 12-19; through the use of new technologies, platforms and data monitoring.
Read the report here.
DIGITAL SYMPOSIUM
29 November 2017
Arts Connect presented a Digital Symposium in November 2017 at Birmingham Royal Ballet, containing the outcomes and findings from the 2017 Digital Research and Development programmes and a Keynote from Sharna Jackson. Coventry Libraries and information services, Ruth Hopkins and Birmingham Royal Ballet presented their ideas and research and there was then an opportunity for delegates to discuss and share other regional work.
At the Symposium we told delegates that we would be launching a regional Digital Network. Details of events and how to get involved can be found on this page.
DIGITAL PICK AND MIX DAY
November 2016
Digital Pick and Mix was a day of practical sessions where people explored and unearthed the creative, artistic and technological practices being used by the creative, cultural and commercial sectors. Individuals selected a ‘pick and mix’ of sessions they wanted to attend and focused on either one area of content creation or explored a wide range of practices.
Catch up on comments, ideas and thoughts from the day via twitter #digimix16
Access the full programme of the day in the resources section here
DIGITAL NETWORK
Digital Network
We’re developing a digital network which will meet quarterly throughout the year. The aim of the network is to share digital opportunities for children and young people, develop good practice and help shape and support the digital programme at Arts Connect. The network isn’t just for digital experts, though of course experts are more than welcome but is also for those who want to develop their digital practice, find out more and contribute to a region wide discussion.
If you’d like to be involved in the network please email: Gemma
More information
Research and Development
Download our latest R&D reports and documents.
Resources
Resources from our previous events can be found here.
Please note that apps were created by 3rd parties and Arts Connect cannot take responsibility for their content or functionality.
Booking
Arts Connect Digital Symposium. 5th March 2020
Arts Connect
Arts Connect is the Bridge organisation for the West Midlands. Our aim is that all children and young people in the region can access and enjoy a rich and meaningful arts and cultural life.
We believe that meaningful engagement with the arts and culture contributes to a thriving childhood and impacts on learning, achievement, attainment, wellbeing, health, creativity, career options, progression into higher education and wider benefits to participating in society. Our purpose is to improve opportunities for children and young people aged 0 – 19 to access, engage in and connect with high quality arts and cultural activity.
We run a variety of programmes across the region, and champion Artsmark and Arts Award. Please visit us here for more information.
Find out more:
