Bits 2 Blogs is the annual event for anyone working in the North East cultural heritage sector who is passionate about using new ideas and new technologies to engage new audiences.
The event will feature a range of impressive speakers sharing best practice on innovative digital projects related to mobile and apps, digital strategy and marketing, public reuse of data and collections, and more.
94% of delegates from the 2012 event stated they'd been inspired to develop new projects in their organisation!
Ben Templeton is the Creative Director for Thought Den, an award-winning digital studio. He leads web, mobile and installation projects for cultural organisations such as Tate, the Science Museum, Southbank Centre and the BBC. Ben will explore the creative process behind three examples, how they performed and what opportunities the future holds.
Just because you've got good sound recordings on your website doesn't mean your site visitors will necessarily listen to them. Ian will explain how a site's structure, editorial and visual design can all combine to guide visitors to the 'play' button time and again. He'll also describe techniques for crowd-sourcing recordings, building sound maps, and when to keep a site function in-house or rely on a third-party service.
Jason will talk about how mobile experiences will change when everything becomes connected to the Internet - not just mobile phones and tablets. He will discuss the ‘silent conversation’ that connects audiences, new devices and objects into the ‘internet of things’ and offer recommendations and opportunities for how cultural organisations can succeed in this emerging digital landscape".
Jason DaPonte has over 15 years experience working at the junction where media and technology collide – and he loves it. Before starting The Swarm, he spent the last 3 years working as Managing Editor of BBC Mobile where he oversaw the content across the BBC’s mobile web, apps and messaging offers. Before that, he was an Executive Producer for BBC Online. Jason is also a mentor and facilitator on Crossover Labs and X Media Lab.
This session outlines the development of the V&A's digital strategy over the last 18 months and the realities of implementing change. It covers changing organisational structure, reviewing governance of digital commissioning, technical rationalisation to deliver digital content efficiently, sustainably and scaleably and outlines the V&A's road map for developing digital media services to visitors on the web and mobile such as data-driven architecture and mobile responsive design. It offers a critical look at the practical steps taken so far in these areas - that is what we have actually done about achieving what we have said we should do, with an honest look at barriers to change, things that have worked well, quick wins and pitfalls to try to avoid.
This session is intended to offer reflection and experiences (good and bad) from real-life activity, which may help you to develop, and advocate for, best practice in your digital activity.
We have been digitising physical objects for some time now via 2d and 3d scanners. We have archived old recordings to wave files and reels of film to DV. But now with the advent of prosumer grade 3D printing of increasing fidelity we have the potential to re-materialise these digital objects. This leaves us with a number of interesting questions regarding the arts and heritage. As media becomes increasingly transient from physical to digital and back again does its meaning change? What does it mean when visitors can scan a perfect copy of your objects on their phone and upload to pirate bay? How can you make this work in your favour?
Dominic Smith is an artist and curator whose practice explores open source methods of project development through a hands-on, open approach to working with art & technology. He recently completed doctoral research with CRUMB at Sunderland University examining the relationship between open source production methods and methods employed by artists and curators. Dominic currently manages the Pixel Palace, a creative digital media programme at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Rachel will describe some of the early findings in co-creating digital and tangible prototypes that seek to explore the qualities of digital representation through sensory and aesthetic experiences of objects. Museums and heritage sites are increasingly using digital representations of objects online, on smart phones, tablets and through touch screens to improve access to collections for diverse audiences. However, little of the relationship between digital and physical artefacts has been explored. In particular, the sensory and aesthetic qualities of the digital and contribution this makes to visitor experience. The presentation will outline a pilot partnership project with the Angelou Centre, an international women’s centre in the West End of Newcastle that works with ethnically diverse groups and Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums. The aim of the pilot is to understand the sensory and aesthetic connections researchers and women make to their own personal collections and the craft and design collection at the Shipley Gallery. The project forms part of the Creative Exchange; a collaborative five year programme between Newcastle University, commercial companies, creative industry professionals and charitable organisations.
Everyone is trying to engage with online audiences, but is social media really the best way to do it? And to what end are we desperately pursuing this relationship with the virtual public?
This talk will explore what's needed for effective engagement, what online audiences want, and the value a digital community can provide.
Sarah Cole is Founding Director of Time/Image, a heritage asset consultancy that provides a broad range of services to help cultural and heritage organisations enable access, encourage exploration, and provoke engagement with their collections. A prime example of its work is the British Council Film Collection, a 1940s cultural propaganda collection that launched in partnership with the British Council, British Film Institute, and Google in May 2012 to great acclaim. Sarah is also an established resident at the Centre for Creative Collaboration, an experimental working space where she is developing new methods for collaboration.
Please note that this event has been extremely popular and is now sold out. There is an option to add your name to a waiting list where you will be automatically notified should a place become available.
For any further information about this event please contact Gill Scott by email at: gillian.scott@twmuseums.org.uk or by telephone on 0191 277 2316.
This event is organised by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums is a major regional museum, art gallery and archives service.
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums manages a collection of 12 museums and galleries across Tyne and Wear, supported by the five local authorities of the area.