INTERFACE Connecting digital innovation across the UK
p r e v ious pa r t ne r s
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What is it? Interface is a unique networking event for top UK culture brands to meet creatives, artists, agencies and developers from the digital industries.
Who? Cultural partners cover many aspects of the creative industries from theatre to publishing, galleries and dance. Partners have included BBC, Barbican, Channel 4, Glyndebourne, Imperial War Museums, National Theatre, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Rambert Dance Company, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Court, Penguin, Unicorn Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate and the V&A.
Where? Interface is hosted outside of London. We continue to move the event around the country as we track down hotbeds of talent.
Partners must meet two criteria. Firstly they must have commissioning budgets for digital work in the coming year. Secondly, they must agree to send a senior decision maker and/or budget holder.
What happens? Prior to Interface the cultural partners indicate what areas of work they will be commissioning in the next 12 months. The digital suppliers complete an application indicating their specialisms. The two lists are cross referenced to create a bespoke appointment programme.
This means that every Interface meeting is a genuine business opportunity. What does it cost? The partners and the digital suppliers pay nothing to attend. Costs for running the event are covered by Globe Education and sponsorship and financial support within the visited region.
Cultural partners and digital suppliers each send one or two delegates. The delegates each have curated meetings, plus access to a main networking space.
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“Interface champions and develops the creative talent of the UK� Dan Harrington - Head of Digital, Arts, British Council
w e l come t o in t e r fa ce
I believe in the art and artists of Great Britain. Our capacity for innovation and potential for growth, means we are well poised to respond to changes in the digital marketplace. This was never more relevant than three years ago, when the UK was in the middle of an economic crunch. Top UK culture brands held their breath as the public tightened their belts. At the Globe we wondered how, in times of public austerity, we would continue to create the fresh, agile work our audiences expected. Meanwhile, independent artists and companies were struggling to be seen by the cultural ‘behemoths’ that could commission work, develop their practice and raise their profile. How we dealt with these pressures would not only shape our development. If done well it could also benefit the wider Cultural and Creative sector across the country. I realised that this shared desire to innovate could become a catalyst for positive change; that I could bring together artists and commissioners and find a new model; one based on collaboration and mentoring. Interface created opportunities to discover talent outside of London and forge new links within the UK creative industries. The ongoing success of Interface and the involvement of such eminent and diverse cultural organisations is evidence of both the needs and benefits of the scheme. Interface is an opportunity to nurture digital talent, and to keep UK cultural organisations on the cutting edge. It is my pleasure to lead Interface and I look forward to the exciting opportunities for the regions, companies, businesses and individuals involved. Best wishes,
Harper Ray Interface Founder - Shakespeare’s Globe
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“Interface provides a much needed bridge between established cultural institutions and smaller more agile digital companies; taking the noise out of the market place to make each meeting count. These ideal partnerships are perfect to challenge both parties into catalysing the next creative generation.” Guy Armitage – CEO, Zealous and Guardian: Top 10 Creative Entrepreneurs
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“Interface is an inspiring and original concept.� Craig Titley - Director of Marketing, Rambert Dance Company
“Interface is a fantastic opportunity bringing together cultural companies regional businesses just wouldn’t meet otherwise. You can feel the buzz in the room as a result. The quality of talent available is really stand-out; and the possibilities presented have been invaluable.� Kieron Cropper - Communications Manager, Wired Sussex
c a se s t ud y The London Philharmonic Orchestra is recognised as one of the world’s finest symphony orchestras. In 2014 they attended Interface in Bristol. Within three months they commisioned two of the SMEs they met. “Following Interface I invited four companies to submit ideas for a promotional video and web campaign for a London Philharmonic Orchestra festival. The creative ideas, overall vision and the expertise were so strong that we ended up splitting the brief and commissioning two different companies. One company will be working on a set of branded web pages for the festival later this summer, and the other is creating two unique animations. We’re really excited by skills these SMEs are bringing to this project, which is pushing our usual boundaries of the kind of work we do. Having the chance to meet the directors of an impressive range of companies at Interface was an invaluable way of finding a good match between digital agency and the LPO, as well as significantly broadening our pool of small agencies to whom we can go with project ideas.” Alison Atkinson - Digital Projects Manager, London Philharmonic Orchestra
“Interface was great. We were put in front of loads of people who we would never usually get a chance to meet and best of all - we got a job out of it! It’s been a brilliant experience so far, we’re extremely proud to add the London Philharmonic Orchestra to our list of clients and really excited about the work we are creating for them.” Joe Wood - Director & Co-Founder, Rumpus Animation
“Interface gave us the opportunity to meet many of our wish list clients on a single day, something you don’t easily organise yourself! And aside from all the contacts we made, we ended up working on a digital campaign with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, which is fantastic.” Remco Merbis - Founder & Creative Director, Pixillion
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“It's a simple yet irrefutably great idea and is deserving of support.� Toks Majek-Akisanya - CEO, Creative Industries Development Agency
con t inuing succe ss There have been numerous working relationships forged on the back of Interface.
The work created by Persistent Peril for Shakespeare’s Globe formed a basis for the identity of the Globe Playground, the online offering for 6-11 year olds.
One such story comes from the small animation start-up, Persistent Peril. Since Interface both the Barbican and Shakespeare’s Globe commissioned work from the studio, and in the years following the event Persistent Peril have continued to grow their list of clients and expand their studio.
‘The Beasts of Shakespeare’s Globe’ have been used in a variety of online games, quizzes and an interactive film, as well as merchandise within the Globe shop. A variety of individuals and companies - from web developers to film makers, producers to composers, have collaborated on numerous successive projects following this single meeting at Interface. See more of their work at shakespearesglobe.com/playground
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“Interface lead to us working directly with the Barbican and Shakespeare’s Globe. Since the event we have secured London based representation, employed more freelance staff, and expanded our studios. Interface encourages a new model of working between large and small companies, and it has proved absolutely transformative for us as a small creative business.” Sam Bourner - Co-owner, Perisistent Peril
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e conomic imp a c t of digi ta l cr e at i v i t y The cultural and creative employers are vital to the UK economy and its identity. Over 2.5 million people are employed by them directly or in creative roles in other industries. However, the established cultural sector is being impacted by economic uncertainty. Times are tough at both ends of the spectrum. It is estimated that 1,800 small UK companies became insolvent in April 2012.
With all of these factors it seems strange that regional digital companies find it difficult to get quality time with bigger companies; those that are looking for just this type of supplier. Business is formed on the back of authentic relationships based on a face to face knowledge of each other and first hand examples of their skills. Interface creates this opportunity outside of London channeling resources of the capital to the innovative digital businesses throughout the UK.
In spite of, or maybe due to these turbulent times, we have seen an exponential growth in the use of digital technology. In the last ten years Internet usage has increased 566.4% to a staggering 2.5 billion global users.
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“We found that arts and culture contribute to the national economy in an enourmous number of ways and have a significant impact.
“The creative economy employs 2.5 million people (greater than financial services, advanced manufacturing and construction) and accounts for at least 9.7% of the UK’s Gross Value Added.”
In 2011 the creative industries contributed over £5.9 billion to the UK GDP.”
Nesta
Centre for Economics and Business Research
In 2011, the UK exported £15.5 billion of creative industries services, representing 8% of the UK’s total exports of services.
“For every £1 of subsidy provided to the arts and culture industry, the sector made a £7 contribution to GDP. The Daily Telegraph
Create UK
“We estimate that the UK could have increased its annual 2011 GDP by up to £63 billion if it had achieved global leadership in digitisation.”
“Arts and culture generate more per pound invested than the health, wholesale and retail, and professional and business services sectors.”
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Arts Council England
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“The UK Creative Industries are world renowned and the world wants to see their output. The challenge is to make the connection between the digital tech needed to do that and the creative companies. Interface is a fantastic initiative providing a practical way for the best of UK digital to meet the best of UK creative.� Julian David - CEO, techUK, the technology industry trade association for the UK
e x a mp l e SCHE DUL E
10am Partner Arrivals
11am Networking
10.15am Digital Companies Registration
1pm Lunch
4.30pm Closing Talk
4.45pm Open Networking & Bar
10.30am Opening Talk
2pm Networking
10.40am Day Briefing
4.15pm Break
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6pm End
“I found the event incredibly stimulating and provocative. It has forced me to think about digital product and market in a different way. It was so useful to meet the Brighton community too. The level of quality of each ‘date’ was far higher than other [similar events].” Eric Huang - Publishing Director, Penguin
t r ue t o our e t hos From early on, we knew we wanted to create a unique and striking identity for Interface which was true to the ideas behind the project.
We sought out a small-scale regional designer with big ideas. Finally selecting and commissioning the independent designer and art director, Patrick Fry.
“Shakespeare’s Globe... is famous for many reasons, but it’s fair to say that digital networking events would not be the first thing to spring to mind. So when the iconic theatre launched its first such event Interface recently, it turned to a graphic designer with the abilities to marry these seemingly incongruous worlds. Patrick Fry created a striking identity combining geometric coloured patterns and clean white space for a look that manages to be both contemporary and characterful. Interesting enough on their own, as a set the pamphlets really come together, a nice nod to the ideas behind the event they are promoting.” It’s Nice That - February 2013
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“I found Interface really useful as a way of hearing what other people are working on and thinking about things that we should be focusing on.� Rosie Cardiff Senior Digital Producer, Tate
Organised by Globe Education, Shakespeare’s Globe