UNESCO City of Media Arts - York's Bid

8/9/2019 UNESCO City of Media Arts - York's Bid

1/35

YORKUNESCO

CITY OFMEDIA

ARTS For twomillenniaYork has

been the

meeting

point for the

ideas and

creativity of

the world

CANDIDATE CITY


2/35

Throughout Yorks history, a strong sense of creativity and artistic appreciation hasboth characterised and driven forward our development. Our citys reputation is bu iltupon social and industrial innovation, fairness and artistic flair a city that constantlyinnovates, provokes, stimulates and informs.

Today, these vibrant exchanges and experiences are integrated into the fabric ofeveryday life in the city, acting as an inspiring canvas for creative pioneer s.

Yorks creative offer fully recognises how lucky we are to have the cultural asse ts thatwe do. This is not down to chance, however. We have nurtured our creative sectorsand are committed to doing so for the future not as a tactic, as a strategy or ameans to an end, but because its part of what makes our city great.

The creative offer of York already provides a keystone to our visitor economy. Wehave seen an increase from 2.1 million visitors in 1987 to 7.2 million today and weintend to double their value to 1 billion over the next ten years, pr imarily throughour cultural offering. Supporting and supported by this, creative industries representYorks fastest growing sector and add a new balance to our unrivalled heritageassets and identity. It is also an important means of creating new connections, withour highest profile exports, including Stage One, KMA, Pilot Theatre, and RevolutionGames, commanding audiences on the world stage. Increasingly, therefore, York andits creative products are known worldwide.

Yorks cultural offer does not, however, exist just for visitors. York has the highest rateof participation in the arts in Yorkshire with extensive youth programmes and openaccess media arts skills development. This provides further evidence that our mediaarts sector is fully integrated into the life of the city.

Our achievements to date are founded on strong cultural leade rship, and thiscontinues. Our universities and colleges have invested more than 100m in mediaarts facilities and resources in the last decade. The creation of York@Large, thecitys cultural partnership, in 2003 has embedded our creative industries earlierinto conversations about Yorks future and moves us towards our vision of being aninternationally-renowned centre for cultural production and consumption.

As we look ahead, Yorks vision over the next 30 years, in our Local Plan, championsthe creative industries throughout and we are investing significantly in media artsfacilities and education, libraries and archives, and universal digital connectivity. Asa UNESCO designated City of Media Arts we would raise our ambitions further toattract investment for new and existing businesses in the sector. Their growth, and thecreation of new jobs, would offer new opportunities to our graduates and capture theimagination of a generation.

In achieving these ambitions, the impetus of creativity within the city would beenhanced and shared across the Creative Cities network. Yorks recent experienceof sharing learning across worldwide networks through our involvement in LivingLabs Global Awards and URBACT III (both focussed on our Genius! social innovationplatform) has embedded these principles within the Councils approach. Theopportunity to work in a similar way in our creative sectors is something which we

can see significant benefit in and we are very excited about.

In 2011, I accepted the UNESCO invitation to attend the Creative Cities conferencein Seoul with Chair of Creative York, Marcus Romer. As a candidate city, York madea presentation at that conference and had fruitful discussions with other cities in theUNESCO Creative Cities network. Unfortunately, applications were put on hold byUNESCO for reasons outside our control but our enthusiasm to join the network hasnever waivered.

The Lord Mayor, Cllr Alexander and I, as well as partners across the city, recognisethe huge opportunity the Creative Cities network offers in making Yorks future ascompelling and internationally recognised as its past. We commend this bid to youstrongly, with optimism and anticipation of what it would mean for York and its people.

Yours faithfully,

Kersten EnglandChief ExecutiveCity of York Council

Cllr. James AlexanderLeaderCity of York Council

A letter from

City of York Councils Chief Executive

Cllr. Sonja CrispCabinet Member for LeisureCulture and Tourism

Cllr. Ian Gillies

The Rt Honthe Lord Mayor of York


3/35

A definitionof media arts

Media Arts involves the

integration of new media

technologies into creative

practice and social exchange.

This includes disciplines such

as video games, computer

animation, digital and

interactive art, sound art, film,

television and theatre.

In York, it is activity partaken

in by professional artists,

designers, academics, researchers,

enthusiasts, the general public

and voluntary sector.Yorks Stage One created the show infrastructure and all stageengineering and automation for the global production of Zarkanaby Cirque du Soleil.

Photo Credit: Matt Beard Cirque du Soleil

mediacityyork.com


4/35

xecutiveummary

The legacy of Yorksstanding as the socialcapital of the north isall around us: iconicarchitecture, renownedbookshops, galleries andtheatres, world-classmuseums and archives,and the contemporaryinterpretation of thisheritage for a thrivingtourism industry.

This melting pot ofassets has alwayscultivated an appetitefor education, culture,and self-expression thathas allowed the peopleof York to make a highlydistinctive contribution toculture in the UK.

The city today is a hubof innovation, exportingthe liquid crystal anddisplay technologies thatform the basis of ourflat-screen televisions,computers and mobile

This bid recognises thedriving contributionof media arts to thecitys quality of life,the competitivenessof the local economy,high levels of publicparticipation, and theinvestment in the humancapital in our academicinstitutions.

Yorks creativecommunity isincreasingly making itsmark abroad throughbest-selling computergames, new musictechnology, immersivedigital playgrounds,cutting-edge museuminterpretation, and bymaking its cultural andcreative output availableacross boundaries.

phone displays, thetechnology behind onlinevideo services for thelikes of BBC iPlayer andChina United Television,and cutting-edgeinnovations in chocolateat Nestls ProductTechnology Centre.

Constantly evolving inits history, Yorks latestchapter is gatheringreal pace, with creativeindustries becomingthe fastest growingarea of its economy.These evident strengthsin media arts andsupporting technologiesallow York to play apart as a centre for newideas and artforms inthe 21st Century, bothreaching into the worldand drawing the worldtowards us. UNESCOdesignation will act asa tipping point in thisendeavour.

As a city, we are united in

our ambition to become

a UNESCO City of Media

Arts and to join the

Creative Cities Network

as active partners

Creative activity andeconomic prosperityin York has alwaysfollowed a dedicationto social equality and tonurture human talent,side by side with thevalues of opennessand collaborationempowered by thedigital age and thevalues of UNESCO.

York is excited aboutthe prospect of sharingthese experiences andexploring new ideaswith the Creative CitiesNetwork. It wouldalso prompt greatercollaboration with ourregional neighbourssuch as Hull, Leeds,Sheffield and Bradford.

We believe UNESCOCity of Media Artsdesignation would actas a catalyst for newinvestment, connections,ideas and exchanges.And, as a gateway tointernational marketsfor the region, it wouldcreate significantbeneficiaries beyondYork.

Partners in the bidinclude organisationsand bodies in thefields of culture, arts,innovation, tourism,government, media andeducation.

This submission issupported by ArtsCouncil England, NESTA(National Endowmentfor Science, Technologyand the Arts), and theUK National Commissionfor UNESCO (UKNC)Secretariat withendorsements fromLyon, Enghien-les-Bainsand Sapporo.

Photo courtesy of Pilot Theatre


5/35

The historyof York is

the historyof EnglandKing George VI

rks rich heritage is the backbone of its reputation asultural city and the prologue to its medias explosion.

unded by the Romans in 71AD as a major strategictress, York developed into the capital of the northern

ovince of Britain and has been an important city,th politically and economically since. The Vikings,o occupied the city in 866AD, created a greatding centre with links right across Europe.

ring the medieval period York was Englandscond city and by the eighteenth century it was acial centre. In the nineteenth century Yorks economictunes again rose with the railways and it becameey base for the chocolate industry, with Terrysocolate Factory being established in 1767 andwntrees in 1862.

s blend of new cultures and triumphs brought withn explosion of new ideas and artistry that fill our

useums today. As master storytellers, York haslt leading industries recounting its colourful00-year history.

esent day York is equally shaped by the darksodes of its past such as the massacre of the entire

wish community of York in 1190, which defines ourgoing commitment to tolerance and togetherness.

Yorks past is also visible as a mosaic of buildingsand streets unique in character, which have inspiredpainters such as L.S. Lowry, Frances Place, ThomasGirtin, William Marlow and Samuel Prout.

The citys legacy of important stru ctures include YorkMinster, the largest Gothic Cathedral in NorthernEurope; over 2,000 listed buildings; and 22scheduled ancient monuments including the City Walls,Cliffords Tower and St Marys Abbey. Its more recenthistory also catalogues modern developments inarchitecture, monumental arts, engineering and townplanning. From the integration of n ew technologiesand cutting-edge experiences into its attractions suchas The Orb at York Minster, to digital light and sounddisplays at its festivals, media arts is breathing new lifeinto Yorks heritage and advancing the art of digitalstorytelling.

Yorks quality of life extends beyond its aestheticbeauty. Crime rates are low, income levels arerelatively high and there is a good general levelof health.

Despite appealing to well-educated workers,with 41% of the population having degree-levelqualifications, York also has pockets of severedeprivation. However, it is not a city in its comfort zone,and this bid is evidenceof its ambition to unite aroundits 21st Century strengths.

York: An overviewof the place, people,past & present

1

Geographical area

York occupies a strategically important position on themap sitting at the centre of Great Britain. An area ofsignificant natural beauty, Yorkshires landscapes haveinspired literary and art greats including the Bronts,Henry Moore, David Hockney and JMW Turner.

York is able to draw on the cultural strengths of itsurban neighbours: Leeds (dance, literature andsculpture), Bradford (film), Sheffield (music and film),and Hull as UK Capital of Culture 2017 a nd its role inmigration, past and present.

Less than two hours from London by rail and a similartravel time from Edinburgh, and under one hour 15minutes from airports in Leeds, Manchester, EastMidlands and Doncaster, the city has excellent nationaland international transport links.

York falls within the Leeds City Region, the UKs largesteconomy and population centre outside London,representing a 55 billion economy and employing1.3 million people. It is also the UK city region with thegreatest Digital & Creative business growth.

Photo courtesy of Illuminating York


6/35

City layout

A place of intense creative energy, York has always usedits size to its advantage. Characterised by a compacturban area, it provides regular contact with the cityscreative output.

The citys 4.8 square kilometres of parks and openspaces are places to discover new experiences andenjoy life, to stumble upon informal performances andto take in the citys unique sights and sounds.

In 2010 a team of Urbanists led by Alan Simpson Jacksonpublished York New City Beautiful. It created a roadmapfor a better connected city, reimagining its streets, publicspaces and parks as places that could enhance howpeople experience its culture. It also advocated raisingthe profile of Yorks digital and creative industries toreflect a new cutting edge York.

Inspired by the report, the 3.3 million Reinvigorate Yorkprogramme of urban regeneration is further infusingmedia arts experiences into the citys public realm.

Infrastructures

Energy

York has always had a close relationship with natureand aims to develop and thrive as a sustainable city.

The pace of change towards a low-carbon economyhas sped up with the creative and service industries atits core. The University of York is a founding memberof the Centre for Low Carbon Futures, delivering high-impact research on themes of food, energy and waterand supporting game-changing technologies in use inEurope, Asia and Latin America.

Yorks Low Emission Strategy has led to investmentin transport and technology-based solutions. Yorksaward-winning Local Transport Plan promotes walking,cycling and using public transport.

York aims to reduce its carbon-footprint by 40% by 2020and 80% by 2050.

Mobility

York has systematically worked towards being a city ofmovement.

This includes the pedestrianisation of the city centre 25years ago, an extensive network of scenic cycle routes,frequent and accessible public transport services andthe promotion of sustainable modes of transport. Yorkwas designated a Cycling City from 2008.

Communications

Yorks Creative Cities aspirations are underpinned witha blend of next generation wired, WiFi and mobilenetworks.

York aims to be one of the most digitally-connectedcities in Europe by 2015. It is already one of the UKs firstSuper-Connected Cities, with 3m being invested indigital infrastructure on top of its superfast broadbandcoverage across 97% of the city. Free WiFi internet canbe accessed in public realm hotspots, city centre streets,community centres, libraries and on public transport.

Multicultural profile of the city

York is a welcoming city and aims to be a beaconof tolerance and inclusivity. Minority ethnic groupsrepresent 9.1% of the population, an increase of 85%in ten years. Today 100 different nationalities callYork home, introducing a cosmopolitan outlook anddiversity. The relatively recent influx of immigrants hasbeen accelerated by European enlargement, the riseof the Universities up international ranking tables, andrefugees and those seeking asylum, in particular fromKenya, Uganda, Poland and Turkey.

Yorks proximity to diverse cities, such as Leeds andBradford, has also been integral to its celebration ofmulticulturalism. Multicultural activities are embeddedat all school levels and festivals regularly inviteparticipation in Yorks inter-faith and inter-culturalnetworks. The annual York Human Rights Festival hasgrown into a global forum for ideas from researchers,politicians, writers, historians and activists.

Government structure

York is structured to enable participatory democracyfrom youth onwards. Local democracy is ensuredthrough voting at local elections, participation atResident Forums and council meetings, the pluralityof local media, and the transparency embedded intothe new council website. This relationship betweencity, citizens and businesses has become even closerin recent years, with digital democracy enablingdaily contact through social media, the live screeningof Cabinet meetings by local arts organisation PilotTheatre, and the citys first Digital Inclusion Strategy.

City of York Council operates on a Leader and Cabinetmodel of governance, formed by the majority party.Local elections are held every four years.

York Youth Council is made up of a diverse group of 11 to18 year olds who volunteer their own time to representthe views and interests of their peers, to challenge thecouncil and other service providers, and to improve Yorkfor all young people. The council has long championedthe citys cultural assets and capabilities, and is currentlyexploring innovative models for bringing togetherculture, tourism, marketing, and economic developmentunder a single agency.

The citys 4.8 square

kilometres of parks and

open spaces are places to

stumble upon informal

performances and to take

in the citys unique sights

and sounds.

mage courtesy of KMA. Es Terni Festival, Umbria


7/35

York is now the third

fastest growing city

in England with a

population of 200,000

pulation

rk is now the thirdtest growing city

England with apulation of 200,000,ich is projected to

ow by another 12.5%er the next 15 years.otal of 6,550,045ople live within a-mile radius of Yorkd 19,805,131 within0 miles. York is botheing in line withtional trends andtting younger, withnificant increases in19 year olds (+17.8%)d 20-24 year olds39.1%), driven by theowing success of theversities. The totaldent population iser 21,500 and, witherseas students fromer 120 countriesaking up 23% of thature, Yorks skilledent has a globalotprint.

a candidate CityMedia Arts, York ismmitted to unlockinge creative potential ofyoung people.

EconomyYork has the mostbuoyant economy inthe north of Englandsupporting 117,000 jobsand contributing 4billion of value to thenational economy. Itis home to a diverseand dynamic businessbase with particularstrengths in thescience, technology,creative industriesand professional andfinancial services. Ofthe industrial age,York retains significantemployment inchocolate, railways, andconstruction.

Yorks culture is asignificant influencer ofinward investment. It isalso the backbone ofYorks tourism market,which has grown from2.1 million visitors in 1987to 7.2 million today. Thecitys Local Plan aims tocreate 16,000 additionalprivate sector jobs by2030 and to invest intransport, housing,renewal energy anddigital infrastructure tosupport this growth.

Urban planningpolicy & strategyYorks urban planningand development aimsto enhance the livingenvironment through aharmonious balance ofart, culture, communityand heritage.

A new Local Plan for Yorksets out a 2030 vision forthe future developmentof the city and its spatialstrategy. The Planrecognises the criticalimportance of York citycentre as the economic,social and cultural heartof the area with:

_ interventions to createa world-class, highquality, accessiblepublic realm;

_ improved facilitiesfor small enterprisesand the digital mediaindustries;

_ enhancements to riverfrontages, turningthem into vibrantenvironments

EducationYorks stature as aLearning City follows atradition of pioneeringcultural education. Thiscan be traced back tothe English-Saxon monk,Alcuin of York (735804),once Headmaster ofthe Cathedral School ofYork (the fourth oldestschool in the world)before founding severalof the earliest schools inmainland Europe. It wasAlcuin who put the sevenliberal arts at the coreof the curriculum of thelate Roman Empire andsparked the CarolingianRenaissance.

The Learning City Yorkpartnership establishedin 1998 has developeda culture of lifelonglearning and innovationfor York that maximisesthe contribution oflearning to personalfulfilment, socialcohesion and economicgrowth for the city.

The founding of theUniversity of York in1963 and the growth ofYork St John Universityare complemented bythe establishment ofmedical training at theHull York Medical Schoolin 2002, Askham BryanCollege of Agricultureand Horticulture, andthe landmark campusdevelopment of YorkCollege.

A world Top 100University, UK Universityof the Year (2010), andmember of the RussellGroup for academicexcellence, theUniversity of York playsa significant role in theeconomic and culturallife of the city and theregion, employing 2,780people and contributingsome 240m annuallyto the York economy.There are now over 30academic departmentsand research centres,with related strengthsin digital media andpreservation, computergaming and narrative

studies, English andrelated literature,history of art, andthe application oftechnology in music.The student body hasexpanded to nearly16,000 and Yorkacademics published1,800 research outputs in2013 more than five aday on average.

Shortlisted for UKUniversity of the Year2013, York St JohnUniversity contributes150m to the localeconomy each year andindirectly helps support600 jobs. Each year 431students graduate from21 undergraduate andpostgraduate coursesacross the fields of visualand performing arts,media and humanities.

The University providesa gateway for creativemedia businesses toaccess the research,skills and facilitiesin higher educationinstitutions.

Both universities haveinvested over 100million in media artsfacilities over the last 10years and contributedsignificantly to the citysentrepreneurial climate.The universities havealso supported newcultural enterprises withlow cost office spaceand helped the creativeindustries leveragethe knowledge at theirdisposal.

hoto courtesy of Visit York


8/35

Today: A creative city

The origins of this UNESCO bid can be traced back toWithout Walls - a citywide partnership and consultationto enhance quality of life and economic prosperity.

The agenda was to make York more welcoming,creative and inspiring a place where peop le takepart in culture as a matter of course. It also sought tochallenge conventional wisdom about York, with VisitYork, the citys official tourism body, viewing cultureand media arts as the key to attracting a younger andmore cosmopolitan visitor profile.

A programme of initiatives began to unlock thecreative potential of the city, and York@Large, a newcultural partnership was formed. For the last decade, ithas championed investment in the fabric of our culturalinstitutions, initiated several iconic activities such asthe flagship Illuminating York Festival and the revivalof the world famous York Mystery Plays, and ensured anew emphasis on culture in the citys hospitality,education and marketing.

This has been coupled with structured public supportfor those operating at the intersection of digital mediaand arts and the integration of culture into municipaldecision-making (e.g. events listings, licensing policy,transport connections, extended opening hours, andcultural facilities in new developments).

As a result, York has seen the emergence of a newgeneration of talented practitioners and successfulorganisations across the many disciplines of mediaarts. It is also leading the way in providing universalaccess to its collections and preserving them forgenerations to come with institutions s uch as YorkshireFilm Archive and the University of York Sound Archives,and the citys reinvention of its libraries service.

2

o courtesy of Dan Cashdan


9/35

Creative industries employmentYork and North Yorkshires cultural economy is made up of 7,495 businessesemploying almost 60,000 people, representing one in five of all jobs in the region.

On almost every conceivable measure, creative industries also represent the fastestgrowing sector of Yorks economy. Employment in the sector regionally rose by25% between 1998 and 2008 but has seen explosive growth of 18.4% more recentlybetween 2011 and 2012, equating to 580 new jobs. This is more than five times thenational average of 3.2% over the same period.

Media arts has been a key driver of this growth with the Creative, Digital & Mediasector now employing 2,500 people (3% of total) and is p redicted to grow in thenext 10 years to create 150 new jobs (representing 8% of future total).

The value of Yorks creative, digital and media output is 120k GVA per employee(Gross Value Added). Representing 8% of Yorks total GVA, it is a contribution thatis expected to grow by at least 24% in the next 10 years. It is estimated that forevery 1 of GVA generated by the arts/culture industry, an additional 1.43 ofGVA is generated in the wider UK economy with indirect spillover impacts in skillsdevelopment and nurturing innovation.

Employment by discipline (2012):

_ Music, Performing and Visual Arts (400)

_ Museums, galleries and libraries (700)

_ Publishing (200)

_ IT, software and computer services (1,500)

_ Film, TV, video, radio, photography (100)

_ Design (100)

_ Architecture (300)

_ Advertising & Marketing (500)

day, creativity and culture are ways of life in York,wing through the living environment, driving theonomy, bringing people together, and acting ase cornerstones to our contemporary identity andrning environments.

an be concluded this 21st Century activity is largelyponsible for Yorks chief credentials as City of

edia Arts:

York is a hotbed of creative talent with world-class learning institutions and the state-of-the-art facilities to match

York has a track record of cultural leadership,evidenced by visionary interventions,influential networks, and thriving mediaoutlets

Yorks world class culture attracts over 7million visitors per annum with media artsacting as the engine of its future interpretation

Yorks cultural experiences form an importantpart of everyday life with York labelled theCity of Festivals

York is investing in the preservation of itsmedia arts assets and digitising its collectionsfor the enjoyment of future generations

York is a place dedicated to the flourishingof human talent and celebration of diversitythrough media arts

Creative Industries represent

the fastest growing sector of

Yorks economy with over 250

creative media arts companies

employing 3,000 people


10/35


11/35

The Ron Cooke Hub

University of York

The Hive

Manor School

Heslington

TFTV Building, University of York

oduction centres

rks highly visible cultural production reflects itstus as the cultural capital of the north for centuries.e recent rise of knowledge industries and k nowledgensfer initiatives has led to incubation centres onucation campuses adding to Yorks inherent capacityself-organise with the proliferation of a rtists studios.

r Lane Studios. Provides affordable workspaced printmaking facilities, and houses many local buternationally-renowned artists.

e Phoenix Centre.Provides affordable space atrk St John Universitys main campus for new venturesely in the creative and digital sector. Each yearto 14 businesses enjoy 12-months of peppercorn

nts, access to specialist technical facilities such asprinters and textile printers, and sector-specific

siness support, mentoring and training.

n Cooke Hub.A 20million, 7000 sq ft melting potcreative engagement and enterprise. From seeding

w ideas and incubation to showcasing of newncepts, the Hub has become a prominent productionntre for media arts since its opening at Heslingtonst in 2010. The Hub is also used to exhibit creative

orks with lectures theatres, a gallery, and the 3Sixtyblack box with 360 degree full-wall projection andround sound.

rk Science Park.The Innovation Centre is home toablished knowledge-based companies who benefitm direct access to the University of Yorks Researchd Innovation Office.

slington Studios.A new 30m film and televisionntre, providing state of the art production andst-production facilities and equipment to studentsd industry. It offers two high-spec, high-definitionoadcast television studios, a screening room and0-seat cinema, a 200-seat theatre, and multi-nctional rehearsal spaces.

een Screen Studios.The innovative partnershiptween Heslington Studios - the commercial arm of

e University of Yorks Department of Theatre, Filmd Television (TFTV) and Green Screen Productionsowering costs and opening the door to theernationally distributed films market.

sed at the site of the ARTTS International Filmhool, the studio has been transformed into aoduction base for film and television, with 3 largedio spaces, facilities for production, costume

oms, and various rehearsal spaces. It also housescommodation with 30 bedrooms for cast/crew use.

E HIVE.A new 3.5 million media centre andeatre was built at Manor CE School in 2011 topport the teaching of vocational courses in Mediad Performing Arts. The purpose-built theatre seats9 people alongside a disabled gallery, gantry andntrol room, a rehearsal studio, and Apple Mac Suite.ildren from all over the city who take the Creativeedia Diploma use the centre, as well as beingailable for public and industry hire.


12/35

stivals & events

rks eventful festival landscape provides perhapse most visible celebration of its creativity.

rk Early Music Festival: The annual festival is thes premier celebration of 500 years of musicaltory, from the medieval (1250) to the baroque50). It draws in international artists and audiencesd works in partnership with BBC Radio 3, the UKs Council, and the Rseau Europen de Musiquecienne (REMA).

York Stories 2012:A major community project aspart of York 800 celebrations, marking the milestoneanniversary of the citys self-governance. The projectcollected 1,500 stories about peoples relationship withthe city. The resulting words, music, voice, audio, digitalmedia, video, poetry, letters and lyrics were turnedinto original artworks by artist Kane Cunningham andsaved for posterity in the time capsule until 2212 whenYork will be celebrating 1,000 years of self-governance.

York Open Studios:A visual arts festival taking placeover two weekends each year.

Aesthetica Short Film Festival:The Aesthetica ShortFilm Festival (ASFF) is a celebration of independe ntfilm from across the world. It showcases films in 15 Yorklocations including medieval halls, ancient city walls,boutique cinemas, galleries and museums.

Alongside the screening of 350 films from 40 countries,ASFF also presents a series of masterclasses andworkshops with leading industry figures, workingwith such organisations as BAFTA, Film4, Warp Films,Raindance and Sheffield Doc/Festivals.

York Mystery Plays 2012

Image courtesy of Al lan Harr is Image courtesy of Aesthetica F ilm Fest ival

The Jorvik Viking Festival: Recognised as the largestViking Festival in Europe, the festivals nine-dayprogramme of family-friendly events, lectures,concerts, guided walks and battle re-enactmentsattracts over 40,000 visitors each year from aroundthe world. Now in its 30th year, media arts is integratedthroughout the festival programme.

York Mystery Plays:A cycle of forty-eight mysteryplays, which have brought sacred history to diverseaudiences for 800 years. The format represents theearliest formally developed plays in medieval Europeand it sold 32,000 tickets for its 30-performancerun in 2012.

Theatre Caf York:An international symposiumshowcasing the best new plays for and about youngpeople from across Europe. The 2014-15 festivalwas a collaboration between Company of Angels(UK), Imploding Fictions (Norway), GRIPS Theatre(Germany), and De Toneelmakerij (Netherlands).Bursaries were available for emerging artists.


13/35


14/35

Tour de France:In 2014, the worlds largest annualsporting event came to York. It was accompanied by a100-Day Cultural Festival for the first time in its history.Events included thirty outdoor cinema screens showingfilms about cycling from Yorkshire Film Archives andBike Story, which had weaved public stories into aspectacular one-hour outdoor theatre show.

York Literature Festival:Seeking to capture the publicimagination for literature and unite leading authorswith emerging local talent, York Literature Festivalbegan in 2007. Events include talks, performances,workshops, poetry, theatre, cinema and readinggroups across a 12-day per iod. Writers who haveappeared at the festival include Simon Armitage,Germaine Greer, Kate Atkinson, Tony Benn, AndrewMotion, Carol Ann Duffy, Ian McMillan, DianeSetterfield, and Amanda Vickery.

Festival of Ideas: The Festival of Ideas is symbolic ofYorks collaborative energy with more than 30 partnersinvolved in 120 stimulating events featuring world-classspeakers, performances and interactive experiencesfor people of all ages.

Across a 15-day period in 2013 the theme of North andSouth was explored with headline speakers includingNobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, broadcaster MelvynBragg, screenwriter of Cranford and Call the MidwifeHeidi Thomas and archaeologists and broadcastersMichael Wood and Michael C Scott.

Conferences & symposiaYork hosts several notable conferences and symposiain the digital and creative fields, both of internationalappeal and local application.

Pilot Theatre have run Shift Happens Conferences inpartnership with Arts Council England since 2008. Thepioneering event brings together the worlds leadingthinkers and digital creators with 250 inquisitive artsprofessionals for a day of talks, seminars, debatesand digital up-skilling in the intersection of artsand technology.

Created in the spirit of TEDs mission, ideas worthspreading, York hosted its own TEDx event in July 2011,exploring ideas about integrating Arts in to the

can see the Tour in

heir hearts and in

heir eyes. For that,

say thank you to

veryone in Yorkshirewho has made this

Grand Dpart so very,

ery special.ur de France race director Christian Prudhomme

traditional Science, Technology, Engineering andMaths (STEM) sectors to create a new STEAM age ofinnovation and creativity. Livestreamed around theglobe, speakers contributed from Adelaide (Australia),Christchurch (New Zealand) and Canada.

Innovation in Music (InMusic13) is a new Europeanmusic industry conference bringing togetherresearchers, artists and professionals interested in thefuture of the music industry. Hosted by York St JohnUniversity and the University of York, the committee forthe conference includes representatives from the MusicProducers Guild, Royal Academy of Music, BerkleeCollege of Music, and Neue Musikschule Berlin.

ge courtesy of The Press, York

Images courtesy of Pilot Theatre


15/35

rkshire Museum: One of the longest establisheduseums in England, its collections have been

warded designated status for their importance.

2.2m refurbishment of the Yorkshire Museum adde dting edge technologies to its experiences, includingeractive new media recreations of Roman Yorkd the creation of a super-wide screen audio-visualtory of York presentation.

rk Castle Museum:One of Britains leadinguseums of everyday life. It is best known for itscreated Victorian street, the oldest such street in anyuseum in Britain. An accompanying app enablesers to compare Victorian York to the present day onaugmented tour of the city.

vik Museum: Welcoming over 16 million visitorser the past 29 years, the centre recreates life overhousand years ago in a combination of traditionaltallations and digital edutainment.

e latter follows a 1million refurbishment in 2010h new installations including animatronic figures

York Minster:The most

significant Gothic cathedral

north of the Alps, completed

in 1472. The nave contains the

Great East Window - the career

masterpiece of glass painter

John Thornton, it is the largest

expanse of medieval stained

glass in the world and arguablyone of the finest examples

of media arts of its time.

A new visitor experience, Revealing York Minster, wasopened in 2013. A network of new interactive galleries,the digital installations allow visitors to follow in thefootsteps of Roman soldiers and explore the lives of thepeople, past and present, who have made this one ofthe greatest cathedrals in the world.

Cultural centres Museums:York Museums Trust (YMT) is anindependent charity managing York Castle Museum,Yorkshire Museum and Gardens, York Art Gallery andYork St Marys. The museums attract 600,000 visitors ayear, bringing in 6.4 million, supporting 100 full-timejobs and represent a return on investment of around10 for every 1 invested by the council.

At the forefront of historical interpretation, YMT hasused new technologies to augment the arts andheritage education experience, such as geo-cachetrails, and has appointed a Wikimedian-in-Residenceand holds public Wikipedia Edit-A-Thons as part oftheir major digitisation strategy.

National Railway Museum, Illuminating York, image courtesy of @roywilliam

The Orb at York Minster, designed by Mather & Co, won the 2014 York Design Award for Landscape / The Public Realm Including Urban Design

that engage with the visitors in old Norse. The centrehas used technology to extend the experience online,including using Skype-classrooms to undertake virtuallessons around the world.

National Railway Museum: Attracting over 800,000visitors a year and a former European Museum of theYear, NRMs display of 100 locomotives are flankedby digital installations, including Search Engine, a4 million archive and research centre a llowingvisitors to view previously unseen artwork, papersand photographs. Another project with the NationalArchives aims to digitise its collection of over 1,000,000objects from 300 years of railway history. TheMuseums art collection consists of 11,200 posters, 3061prints and engravings, and 1049 paintings.


16/35

GalleriesYorks collections andtemporary exhibitionsare housed in an eclecticrange of spaces, frompublic galleries tocontemporary whitecubes, higher educationinstitutions, a convertedold school house, andprivate homes.

York Art Gallery:Opened in 1892, the ArtGallery is remarkable forits collection of importantEuropean paintingsspanning sevencenturies, with worksby Bellotto, Reynolds

and the worlds largestcollection of York-bornWilliam Ettys work. Itsworks range from 14thCentury Italian panelsand 17th Century Dutchmasterpieces to Victoriannarrative paintings and20th Century works byLS Lowry and DavidHockney.

York Art Gallery is oneof 250 art institutionsinvolved in the GoogleCultural Institutes ArtProject, enabling peopleto view its collectionsonline in extraordinarydetail. The GallerysEvelyn Collection hasalso been uploaded toGoogle Maps and StreetView with the support ofvolunteers.

Currently undergoingan 8 millionredevelopment, the newgallery will feature sevenexhibition galleries.

ookshops

rk is blessed with ah literary legacy. W. H.den, Andrew Martind Kate Atkinson werern here. The Brontters, Charles Dickensd Wilkie Collins weregular visitors to they, and Collins set parthis novel No NameYork. Daniel Defoesorld famous characterbinson Crusoe wasm York.

nster Gates has beensociated with booksd bookselling since

80 and was formerly

own as Booklandne.

day, Yorks booksellingene includes Stoneough Books once ofssgate, which famouslyd the 2,600 volumerary of authorth Wharton formillion in 2006, Kenelman Booksellersich opened in 1948d deals direct withlectors, museumsd libraries around

e world, Janette Rayre Books focus onchitecture, design,otography anddscape, and York

odern Books whichls first editions ofstrated books andtish art.

The site-specific installations

at York St Marys demonstrate

how York reappropriates and

reimagines its historical heritage

York St Marys

Image courtesy of York Museums Trust

York St Marys: Thischurch is now animaginative setting formajor site-specific artinstallations. Severalartists have usedtechnology to createtheir works.

New School HouseGallery:Housedin a Grade II listedformer schoolhouse,it specialises incontemporary art andobjects.

According to McGee:Opened in 2004,

According to McGeeis a white cube galleryshowcasing of Yorkscontemporary artscene. Their exhibitionInteractive Prints:Nathan Walsh was acollaboration with NewYorks BernarducciMeisel gallery. Theexhibition tested aninnovative approachto viewing artwork: byholding the Repentirapp - developed withthe Culture Lab atUniversity of Newcastleand NorthumbriaUniversity - to a painting,the cityscape wouldreveal the path it took,from the sketches tocompletion.

The same technology isbeing adapted to pilotthe use of tablets inYorks libraries to loanartwork and reducebarriers to ownership.

Theatres

York Theatre Royal:A major regionalproducing theatre withaudiences of 200,000a year.

York Theatre Royalhas one of the busiestDigital Engagement andEducation & Communitydepartments in thecountry. Its youth theatreattracts over 300 youngpeople and stagesan annual TakeOverFestival, where youngpeople take over therunning of the theatre.

York Grand OperaHouse has played hostto touring productions ofplays, musicals, opera,ballet, comedy andcommunity theatre since1902.

The York Barbicanre-opened in 2011after a major 2minvestment. It has acapacity of 1,900 andattracts internationalconferences and events.

Other community theatrevenues include FriargateTheatre and The JosephRowntree Theatre.

The new, state-of-the-art theatre at HeslingtonStudios can entertainan audience of 200.With full connectivity tothe centres facilities,performances canbe recorded by upto five cameras andtransmitted live toanywhere in the world.


17/35


18/35

Deborah BownessYork-based artist anddesigner DeborahBowness, renownedfor her Trompe LOeilwallpaper designscombining traditionaland digital techniques,is featured in the printcollections of V&A, TheWhitworth Art Gallery,theCooper Hewitt NationalDesign Museum andthe Musee des ArtsDecoratifs.

In 2013, Bownessembarked on anationwide exhibitionentitled Paper Trail,which turned interiordecorating inside outby drawing attentionto exterior spaces, in acreative and thoughtfulway. The exhibitionincorporated designsby students from Art& Design Diploma inFoundation Studies atYork College.

Stage OneStage One are world-leaders in scenicsolutions, eventtechnology and motioncontrol for major events.

The companys firstinvolvement in theOlympic Games camein Athens 2004 and theyhave worked on thePan Arab Games 2011Opening Ceremony,Eurovision 2013 andorchestrated numerousflying sequences andsets for Andrew LloydWebbers West Endproductions.

One of the companysbiggest media artcommissions wasthe Alfa Bank VideoMapping show inMoscow. The faadeof Moscow Universitybecame a 25,500square metre canvas forthis record-breaking 3Dvideo-mapping project,played out in front of anaudience of 800,000.

Yorks creative footprint is vast and varied.

Strategic strengths are seen in the

knowledge industries, the problem solving

and vision of the design community, the

creative talents and immersive worlds of

artists, writers, theatrical performers, the

technical roles that support them, and

the preservation and sharing of the craftof previous generations in the cultural

heritage sector with their expertise

exported around the globe.

Renowned alumni include Oscar-winner

Peter Lord CBE who co-founded Aardman

Animation in 1972 during his first year

as an undergraduate at the University

of York, John Barry OBE, best known for

composing 11 James Bond soundtracks

and winner of five Oscars, William Etty

who is the only major British painter

before the 20th century to have devotedhis career to the nude, and those now

developing Media Arts talent nationwide

including television and radio producer

Will Hanrahan and Greg Dyke as former

Director General of the BBC.

Mark HermanMark Herman is anEnglish film directorand screenwriter bestknown for Little Voice,Brassed Off and writingand directing the 2008film The Boy in theStriped Pyjamas, whichachieved worldwide BoxOffice sales of over $20million.

In York, Hermanfounded Parashoots,a video productioncompany thatprovides employmentopportunities foremerging talent,often drawn fromYorks universities.The company alsoseeks to support thecommissioning of shortfilms under the bannerof Parashorts. Hermanis a fellow of Film andTelevision Production atYork St John University.

Practitioners

Olympic Cauldron for London 2012, Stage Ones celebrated petals were the perfect synthesis of the artistic and the technical.


19/35

KMAKMA is an ongoing collaboration between UK mediaartists Kit Monkman and Tom Wexler. Their work isprimarily focused on encouraging and developinginteractions between people in public spaces usingprojections to create impulsive communities and digitalplaygrounds.

KMA have been commissioned to create interactivekinetic light installations around the world, includingthermal imaging playground The Square (2005) onYorks Davygate, Flock (2007) on Trafalgar Square, andCongregation (2010) in Shanghai.

Through a diverse range of commissions, includingthose from the Institute of Contemporary Art, the RoyalOpera House, and the Dublin Docklands DevelopmentAuthority, KMAs work has consistently receivedextensive national and international press attention.

ight White

st described aserpretive Designers,ght White have been

eating multimediarning environmentssome of the worldsding museums since04.

ght Whites mostcent project was tong the 700-year-oldttle of Bannockburnife in an immersive

perience that

transforms how youlearn about Scottishhistory. Bright Whiteconceived many world-firsts for media arts inthe educational sphere,using state-of-the-art3D battle simulation torecreate the decision-making and combat ina battle that changedthe fate of the Scottishnation forever.

With no artefactspreserved from thebattle, Bright Whiteworked with leadinghistorians and GlasgowSchool of Art to interpreta wealth of historicalrecords and createa 100% digital visitorcentre. Revolutionisingthe genre of museumeducation, it puts mediaarts at the heart of thelearning experience.

IsotomaIsotoma are a creative technology consultancy,specialising in the design and build of web and mobileapplications for clients in the fields of publishing,media and education.

Isotoma developed the Inside Natures Giants iPadApp with HarperCollins to accompany the TV seriesand book release.

Technically innovative, the exploration includesengrossing and educational 3D tours of the animalkingdom. The App is currently featured in the iPad AppStores Best of the Best list.

To coincide with the release of The Hobbit: AnUnexpected Journey, Isotoma again collaborated withHarperCollins, the official p ublisher for J.R.R. Tolkienon a set of iBooks to add to the existing range of audioand print titles for The Hobbit.

e of Bannockburn battle simulation

ge courtesy of Bright White

All images courtesy of KMA

Revolution SoftwareYork is home to one ofthe British video gamesindustrys biggestsuccesses: RevolutionGames.

Founded in 1990 byCharles Cecil, TonyWarriner, David Sykesand Noirin Carmody, thecompany is universallyrecognised as pioneersof the graphic adventuregame genre.

After making its debutin 1996, their flagshipBroken Sword serieshas sold over 10 millionunits around the worldand won many awards,including 4 BAFTAs(Best Adventure, BestStory, Best PC Game,Best Design) and BestEuropean Adventureat the European GameAwards.

Revolution recentlylaunched their mostinnovative game - fromfunding to functionality- to date, raisinga third of the totaldevelopment budget($771,560) from 14,032fans via Kickstarter,demonstrating a loyal,international customerbase.

The game was createdin a worldwidecollaboration of the bestdevelopers, graphicartists, animators,actors, 3D modellersand composerswith experience atDisney, DreamWorks,Nickelodeon, UniversalStudios, Sony Pictures,and 20th Century Fox,all converging in York.The University of Yorkalso proved to be arich source of talent,providing CommunityManagers, translators(translated into7 languages), and audiodirector Simon-ClaudiusWystrach.


20/35

innovative instrumentsproduce a rich tapestryof expressive sounds inpublic spaces. Anothergood example ofYorks contribution toaccessible media arts,the technology allowsplayers to tap directlyinto enriching skillssuch as confidence,communication, listeningand empathy.

Pilot TheatrePilot Theatre is theaward-winning NationalTouring TheatreCompany currentlyin residence at YorkTheatre Royal.

In 2009 it became the UKpartner for the Europeanproject, Platform 11+which engages 13theatres in 12 Europeancountries to create newpieces of theatre for 11to 15 year olds. This hasopened the door forinternational touringand collaborations. In2011 the company touredto Milan, Dresden andArgentina and in 2012hosted companies fromaround the EU at aweek-long event in York.

ntinuum Group

hat started as alaboration betweenentrepreneur and

York academic toeserve the citys Vikingmains in the shapethe Jorvik Vikingntre 30 years ago,

now the Continuumoup. The companys developed populartor attractions around

e world turningtural traditions into apular form of familytertainment usinge latest technologymbined with

meless storytelling.adquartered inrk, Continuums ownrtfolio of attractionslectively welcomearly a million visitorsear.

heremin Bollards

pported by theoof of Conceptogramme at York Stn Universitys Creativesiness Office, Musicchnologist Davidung designed thegital Earth Thereminllard. Making

eativity accessible toages and abilitieseliminating theed for prior skill,actice and theory, the

Blood+Chocolate was anambitous piece of promenade

theatre that seamlessly combined

new technologies and powerful

storytelling and turned the

city of York into a living stage

Pilot Theatre has alsobecome a strongadvocate for usingdigital technologieswithin the arts. This hasgrown through its annualhosting of the ShiftHappens conference,which explores newdigital technologies andpossible uses for themwithin the arts sector. In2011 Pilot Theatre hostedthe first ever TEDx Yorkevent and livestreamedthe world-famous YorkMystery Plays in August2012 as part of theirinvolvement in the BBCand Arts Council fundedonline project TheSpace.

Pilot Theatre is to bethe UK partner in aninternational projectportraying peoplesexperience of emigrationand immigration.Working with twotheatres from Canada,two from Europe, inItaly and Portugal,and one theatre fromAustralia, Boomerang Documents of Povertyand Hope will createnew theatre piecesbased on collectingstories from youngpeople in their countriesabout their personalexperiences on thiscomplex matter. This,their fourth European

Project to work withglobal partners, willmake them a part ofa wider conversationabout one of the keysocial issues of ourtimes and its impact onyoung people acrosscontinents. Throughoutthe process of makingthe productions they willbe able to offer a rangeof opportunities foryoung people to be fullyinvolved in the creativeprocess includingcultural exchanges.

The Knife ThatKilled MeA ground-breakingfeature film byMarcus Romer and KitMonkman, in associationwith Universal Pictures.

The project was shotentirely against greenscreen at the purpose-built Green ScreenStudios in York, withlive actors compositedinto stylised computer-generated scenesutilising an all-digitalproduction pipeline. Thepost production wascompleted at Universityof Yorks HeslingtonStudios by a team ofin-house VFX artists andstudents.

Image courtesy of

The Knife that Killed Me

Blood+Chocolate opening scene projected on The De Grey Rooms, York

Image courtesy of Pilot Theatre


21/35

e Learning City York and the Higher Yorkrtnerships have ensured a balanced creative andtural education for all ages. This includes a schoolrriculum that is responsive to changes in the localonomy, including the importance of the arts andhnology, providing the creative industries with

e people and skills required to be successful in aobal market. As a result, 68% of Yorks schools havehieved the national Arts Mark awarded by thes Council for creativity in schools. This comparesh 17% of schools nationally. This means that Yorks

hool children have significantly greater media artsportunities from primary school level onwards andtural opportunities of at least ten hours every week.

ecialist colleges include the Manor CE Academy,media and performing ar ts academy featuring aw 3.5 million media teaching centre, and Canone Specialist Arts College, a rapidly expanding 11-16mmunity school which became a Specialist Arts

The Learning

City York andthe Higher York

partnerships have

ensured a balanced

creative and

cultural education

for all ages.

College in 2005. All of Yorks cultural institutions offerformal and informal opportunities to gain experience,including work experience, apprenticeships andschools outreach programmes.

Education is an ongoing project in York and Inspireis a programme of lifelong learning workshops,lectures and events, with tuition provided by artists,photographers, creative writers and historians.

Creative & Media Diploma:Developed in conjunctionwith business and Sector Skills Agencies, the newCreative & Media Diploma allows learners to combinea number of creative disciplines in one qua lification.

Apprenticeships:York College is the largest providerof apprenticeships in the region, offering vocationalqualifications in Community Arts, Creative and DigitalMedia, Design, Music Business, Photo Imaging andTechnical Theatre.

Creative education & research

Cultural associationsYork@Large, the citys cultural partnership, is flankedby a number of independent creative associations andinformal collectives, including:

_ Creative York - a community of creative individualsand enterprises working with innovative technologiesin arts, media and heritage contexts.

_ The self-organised York Authors represents authors,poets and playwrights living in York, York Codeis an informal get-together of Yorks developercommunity, York Film Coa lition for filmmakers,ArtBloc for contemporary artists, a nd York ArtSociety and York Artworkers for artists more broadly.

_

For over ten years, Screen Yorkshire(www.screenyorkshire.co.uk) has championed thefilm, TV, games and digital industries in Yorkshire.It has launched a 15 million fund to invest increative content produced within the region.

Enterprise in Schools:Events such as Create YourFuture, an annual symposium for creative practitionersand students, offer professional developmentopportunities and progression routes in the sector. In2013, the symposium launched Create&MakeitWork, acompetition for creative businesses to work alongsideyoung people to create digital interpretations ofan upcoming Medieval Treasures exhibition at theYorkshire Museum.

Image courtesy of the University of York / Ideas Group


22/35

versity of York

urses offered at the Department of Theatre,m and Televisions new 30m building reflect theversitys commitment to the integration of theory

d practice in building creative skills.

e BSc in Interactive Media, BA in Theatre: Writing,ecting and Performance, and BSc in Film andevision Production emphasise the convergencetween different media, ensuring students are opennew opportunities for cross-media collaboration.

TVs portfolio of postgraduate programmesakes full use of the cutting-edge performance andoduction facilities on hand. Masters programmesA in Contemporary Cinema and Television, MA

Theatre: Writing, Directing and Performance,A in Digital Film and Television Production, MA/Sc in Postproduction with Visual Effects, and MA/Sc in Postproduction with Sound Design) receivingcreditation by Creative Skillset, the UK film and TVls council. The University works closely with theative industries. For example its flagship Ron Cookeb comprises research, business incubation andowledge transfer facilities for the sector.

e University also offers various assistantships tostgraduates, scholarships, departmental awards,d studentships relating to the arts for domestic andernational students, ranging from 1,000-10,000ch per annum including for students from under-presented groups.

rk is a leading centre for research in Musicchnology and digital composition. The Musicchnology Group played a major role in the EPSRCgital Music Research Network and has sustained linksh international centres for digital music research inain, Denmark and Italy.

e Centre for Digital Heritage is an internationalearch centre that brings together researchers in theversities of Aarhus (Denmark), Leiden (Netherlands),psala (Sweden) and York in Digital Heritage areas ofta management, analysis and visualisation.

e Interdisciplinary Centre for Narrative Studies:ploring the possibilities for rich storytelling presenteddigital interfaces has resulted in several researchlaborations spanning continents, including museumrratives, multi-player interactive dramas and therratives of video game play.

Universities

rks two universities and two further education colleges make a significant contributionthe citys influence and understanding of media arts. They offer more than 160 coursesmedia arts with more than 1,800 media arts students graduating in the city each year.ey are also driving corporate innovation with 15% of York companies having R&D linksthe universities.

York St John University

Shortlisted for UK University of the Year 2013, 450students graduate each year from its 21 undergraduateand postgraduate courses across the fields of visualand performing arts, media and humanities.

The Faculty of Arts international partnerships includeteaching and research exchanges in cultural hubs suchas Beijing, Tokyo, Kyoto, Vancouver, Terni, Salamanca,Madrid, Hong Kong, Salzburg, Munich, Boston,New York, Berlin, Dallas, Portland, Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, Amsterdam, Cyprus and Malta. Theseconnections offer opportunities for collaborationand research among academic staff, for students tostudy abroad, and for international students to studywithin the Faculty of Arts in York. A new transnationaleducation programme with SEGi University College willoffer a BA Music Studies to students in Malaysia from2014.

The Collaborating for Creativity Centre for Excellencein Teaching and Learning project was a 5m 5-yearproject ending in 2010 awarded competitively tothe university in support of its applied research intocreative process. Now completed, the legacy of theproject is built in to the teaching of the Faculty of Arts.

Creative Business at York St John University is a teamof creative media arts professionals that has helpedestablish over 70 new businesses and providedprofessional training for 2,000 creative individualssince 2009.

Each year, York St John University either initiates or isinvolved in 60+ cultural events in and around York.

Image courtesy of University of York

and York St John University


23/35


24/35

BBC Radio YorkEach of the 38 Local BBC stations must broadcast atleast 85 hours of original, locally-made programmingeach week with a remit to stimulate creativity andcultural excellence, and support local arts and music.

Audience:

_ BBC Radio York broadcasts to a total survey area of531,000 adults (aged 15+)

_ It is listened to by 81,000 people (15%) each week

One&Otherwww.oneandother.comOne&Other is an independent local media brand,based in York.

In November 2013, a One&Other TV consortium

including local cultural institutions was awarded the 12-year Local TV licence to broadcast on channel 8. It willbroadcast original news, current affairs, entertainment,heritage and culture programming created for, andin, York and its surrounding areas to up to 250,000households. It aims to launch in 2015 and will invest inthe training of the next generation of digital contentproducers.

Yorkshire Art Journalwww.yorkshireartjournal.comEngages with contemporary and historical artistic workand exhibitions across the region. The journal publishesthoughts on Yorkshire exhibitions and contemporaryartistic activity. The Journal keeps an updated online listof exhibitions, current and upcoming.

The Presswww.yorkpress.co.ukThe Press is the local daily newspaper for a substantialarea of North and East Yorkshire, based in York.Culture features heavily in its daily coverage, witharts supported via free listings on the newspaper andonline Whats On Guide, critical reviews, and a distinctculture supplement on Thursdays.

Audience:

_ The Press has a daily print circulation of 23,007

_ Its website has a monthly readership of 5m pageimpressions and 649,000 unique users

Media outlets

Aesthetica Magazine

esthetica is a contemporary art and culturemagazine and website based in York but with an

ternational perspective on literature, visual arts,music, film and theatre. Aesthetica was founded

y Cherie Federico and Dale Donley in 2002, whenudents at York St John University. The magazineow has a readership of 140,000 an d is stocked in0 countries, offering a look at the most excitingevelopments in the sector and giving an insight intoey artists and current exhibitions.

he publisher provides creative opportunities andsibility for practitioners via the Aesthetica Short Filmestival, the Aesthetica Creative Writing Competition,nd the Aesthetica Art Prize.

The Art Prize is a celebration of excellence in art fromacross the world and offers artists the opportunity toshowcase their work to wider audiences and furthertheir involvement in the international art world.

The Creative Writing Competition is an opportunity forexisting and aspiring writers and poets to showcasetheir work to a wider, international audience: previousentrants have gone on to achieve success andrecognition across the world.

- www.aestheticamagazine.com

Minster FMMinster FM is an independent commercial local radiostation serving York and North Yorkshire for the last 21 years.

York Mixwww.yorkmix.comAn online magazine, York Mixs editorial agendaaims to reflect the lives, concerns and interests ofall members of the communities whilst encouraginggreater engagement with the citys arts and culture.

Local Linkwww.yourlocallink.co.ukLocal Link is a monthly magazine, delivered into90,000 homes and businesses across York.

In association with Visit York, Local Link also pu blish

monthly events guide Whats On York.

Soundsphere Magazinewww.soundspheremag.comBased in the Phoenix Centre, Soundsphere Magazinechampions alternative music in the North of Englandand features bands, artists and culture on a local,national and international level.

City of York CouncilCity of York Council puts its significant weight behinddeveloping and promoting Yorks culture product.Examples of communications initiatives include:

_ YorkCard. Available to all residents, the YorkCardallows discounted or free entry to a range of leisurefacilities, museums and attractions in York.

_ www.york.gov.uk. On the council website, you canfind a comprehensive events guide, information onhow to put on a festival or event, and permits forfilming, busking and street trading.

_ Publications. Your Voice is the councils freenewspaper, delivered to every household in the cityand contains information on cultural events andactivities. The Communications team is also activelydisseminating similar information to media outlets,businesses and residents.


25/35

enturefest Awards

nturefest Yorkshire is an annual conference in Yorkcused on revolutionary ideas - both the people whoeate them and the people who want to invest inem. Now in its 11 th year, it features:

nnovation Showcase - Free space in its innovationshowcase for 20 exciting young businesses, o ne ofwhich wins a 15k prize package of business supportfrom office space to marketing consultancy

nvestment Competition - six entrepreneurs chosenby Yorkshire Association of Business Angels (YABA)present their business or idea to a group of angelnvestors. The winner is awarded a prize packagevalued in excess of 30,000.

APPtitude - a competition to explore the potentialof apps to solve everyday community challengeswith the winners being paid to bring the concept tomarket.

er the last decade Venturefest has helped createestimated 1,287 jobs in the region, and generated

most 28 million for the regional economy.

Visit York - www.visityork.orgAs the citys official tourism body, Visit York is a keyresource for promoting cultural activities to the peopleand visitors of York, and establishing ties with nationaland international journalists.

Since launching in 1987, Visit York has helped boo stannual visitor numbers to the city from 2.1 million visitorsto 7.2 million today, increased the value of tourism tothe local economy from 55m to over 600m, andraised employment in the sector from 5,000 to 23,000.

The organisation has over 700 business membersand partners, primarily in the hospitality and culturalsectors.

Each year 500,000 people make use of their stateof the art visitor centre at Museum Street, to getinformation on the citys cultural attractions from expertstaff, free maps and guidebooks and event tickets. TheVisit York website attracts 2,000,000 visitors each yearwhilst one million Mini Visitor Guides are picked upeach year. Its York Pass offers free entry into over 30local cultural attractions.

Visit York also conduct research and evaluation oftourism activity including the an nual York Visitor Surveyand the York Big Attractions Group Visitor Monitor.

Visit York Annual Tourism AwardsThe Visit York Annual Tourism Awards recognise theindividuals, organisations, campaigns and experiencesthat create a great visitor experience. Media arts havefeatured in specialist categories with Visitor Experienceof the Year, awarded to York Mystery Plays in 2012, andYork Tourism Ambassador of the Year, awarded to YorkTheatre Royals Artistic Director, Damian Cruden in thesame year.

The 2014 Tourism Ambassador is Sarah Maltby,director of attractions for The Jorvik Group.

Prizes & awards

LUMA Film FestivalChampions the vast talent that can be found withinthe Universitys Department of TFTV. Each year, threefilms are selected for a screening at BAFTA hosted byGreg Dyke as they compete for the STUDIOCANALGrand Jury Prize.

York Business WeekYork Business Week attracts over 5,000 people tomore than 50 events and has received awardsfrom Enterprise UK, the organisers of GlobalEntrepreneurship Week, for its series of inspiring andimpactful events.

The York Press Business Awards form part of BusinessWeek, celebrating businesses of all sizes including theYoung Entrepreneur Of The Year and Best Business &Higher Education Link.

Visit York Tourism Awards


26/35

York has successfully reinvented itself as an emergingforce in creative industries. Media arts is valued asboth a social and economic enabler, and an essentialelement in education, civic and corporate life. It is alsothe catalyst for new local, national, and internationalrelationships and exchanges that strive to make apositive difference.

But whilst York is undergoing a renaissance in the artsthrough digital technology there is also a recognitionthat we are at the beginning of this journey. Yorksvision and commitments for the future strive forexcellence in the field and support the aim to be adistinctive and valued addition to the global CreativeCities Network. This section describes the new projects- some evolutionary and others transformative - thatgive life to the title of York, UNESCO City of Media Arts.

The Future

3

Yorks mission statement for membership:

_ York will be a place where creativity defines thefuture understanding and enjoyment of our heritage

_ York will be a meeting place of ideas, creativity andinnovation for the next millennia

_ York will be a place where media arts help definethe quality of life for our future generations

_ Membership to the Creative Cities Network will bea springboard to new experiences, connectionsand initiatives reaching our entire city po pulationand contributing to international understanding ofthe power of media arts to improve the lives andwellbeing of our citizens.


27/35

Looking to the future, York, City of Media Arts, would be a placewhere creativity is integrated into the heart of peoples living,working, studying and visiting experience. It will be a unifyingforce in its future ambitions and forge new relationships withthe city. It will be all these things, but at its core it will also be aplatform for media art and media artists.

Connecting with other leading creative cities, York will once moreshare its cultural influence on the world stage as a birthplaceof new ideas and exchanges in innovation and creativity. Thiswill attract greater inward investment in our creative industries,

retain talent developed in the city, and position York as thelocation of choice for media arts companies.

One of the first projects would be to create a Digital & Media ArtsCentre at Yorks historic 600-year-old Guildhall. Its highly visibleand significant location is testament to the important role mediaarts plays in Yorks future and will blend creative practice withlearning and industry.

Designation will add to the citys reputation for invention andcollaboration. And York will rise to the challenge Designationposes. Our creative industries will be more global and connectedin their outlook, we will unlock the creative energy of ouryounger population, and our festivals will gain new dimensionsdrawing from other member cities. We will celebrate our culturalheritage by elevating media arts activity and opportunities in ourmarketing, giving this aspect of city life and industry new levels ofvisibility as they become a powerful source of civic pride.

These projects will add up to a seismic shift in the currentperception of York as it challenges the weight of its heritagereputation. It will capture the imagination of a new generation toshape the citys future as an international crossroads where ideasand opportunity can meet. In short, it will enhance the exper ienceof living, working, visiting and studying in York.

York has a lot to offer the Creative Cities Network. The essence ofMedia Arts is communication, a nd York would immediately beginto work with Lyons, Sapporo and Enghien-les-Bains in the mutualexchanges of artists, students, and the supporting technologiesand research that empower them. Our festivals will gatherinternational dimensions as they draw on international talentfrom the Network and explore shared issues in new and excitingways.

These creative alliances will feel the full benefit of Yorks 2,000-year standing as a cultural capital and its significant recentinvestment in production, consumption, academic and digitalinfrastructure.

Yorks aspiration to become a member of the UNESCOs CreativeCities Network is enshrined by the following commitments:

_ York will provide the infrastructure and support for its creativeindustries to continue to thrive and attract trade, commissions,and investment

_ York will be an active member of the Network, exchangingideas and experiences with a view to enhancing capacity andconnections

_

York will place creative and cultural education and exp lorationat the centre of its lifelong learning opportunities, cultivating arich and diverse talent base

_ York will build an iconic new Digital Media Arts Centre (DMAC)and spark new public-private centres of production

_ York will increase youth access to Media Arts as a means ofself-expression and skills development

_ York will expand its digital and social inclusion strategy,offering support to other cities within the Creative CitiesNetwork with similar ambitions

_ York will work with other Creative Cities to develop aninternational programme of cultural festivals showcasingMedia Arts

_ York will be promoted as a capital of Media Ar ts productionand experiences, acting as a gateway for national andinternational connections and consumption

_ York will inspire and empower communities to regularlyengage in the arts and to tell their own stories

_ York will work in consortia with like-minded organisations inother Creative Cities to bid for major cu ltural projects anddevelopments

_ York will offer support to other aspirant Cities of Media Arts

Vision Objectives


28/35

York will:

build an international research centre and PhDprogramme for games development and design

A collaboration led by the University of York is totrain the next generation of researchers, designers,developers and entrepreneurs of digital games. TheEPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Intelligent Gamesand Game Intelligence (IGGI) is a 12.5m joint-initiativebetween the Universities of York and Essex, GoldsmithsCollege, University of London and 60 representativesfrom the world-leading UK games industry, networksand user groups.

The University will deliver a four-year PhD programmewhich combines training in practical skills and cutting-edge research topics in big data a nalytics, softwareengineering, artificial intelligence, human-computerinteraction, graphics, sound and game design.

York will look to reach out to other member cities andaward 11 fully-funded studentships to outstandingstudents that cover fees and an annual stipend of13,726 for four years.

Other proposed centres of creation, production, andenjoyment include:

_ Middletons. Private owners of Middletons, whichboasts the largest plot of independently ownedland within the city walls, are transforming unusedbuildings on the site into office accommodation forthe creative and digital sector as part of a 500,000refurbishment project.

In developing the best

possible environment

for creative production,

enjoyment and

preservation, York will

encourage greater

participation and

investment in theactivities that take place

within these facilities.

ork will:

ild an iconic new Digital Media Arts Centre (DMAC)ending creative invention, participation anddustry

nsultation with local creative companies has foundose proximity to one another and demand for grow-

space as the key issues they faced.

response, Yorks first major investment will be theeation of a new Digital Media Arts Centre (DMAC)a prime city centre location. In a skyline dominatedthe Minster for centuries, the A rts Centre cluster willt as an iconic new feature of the citys creativity in itsndscape.

e DMAC will provide affordable space for up to 50eative businesses at any one time and also functiona vibrant civic facility. The model would adopt acing structure that provides a ladder of progressionm start-up to established business.

RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Open Ideasign competition has explored the opportunities

fforded by this unique setting, attracting 53 entriesm international architectural practices. The shor tlist

as put to public consultation to stimulate ideas andther feedback.

rk acknowledges the prominence of the Centres Arts in Enghien-les-Bains and Sapporos plansconvert its historic former Court of Appealsk.a. Shiryokan) into a centre for the exp ression of

cal creativity, and would look to learn from theirperience and initiate a knowledge-exchangeogramme for the scheme and its tenants.

ojects, policies and exchanges to:

trengthenhe creation,

production,distribution,nd enjoymentf cultural goodsnd services athe local level

_ The Junction. A proposed part of the York Centralregeneration scheme would allow entrepreneurs toinvest in their own space in the form of stripped andrefitted shipping containers on a 99-year lease. Itwould provide unique, low cost units for innovativestart-ups, whilst collectively creating a vibrantdestination for business and retail, placing a mix ofworkshops, studios, galleries, cafs and shops side-by-side.

_York Art Gallery.The gallery will re-open in Ap ril2015 after a major 8m redevelopment. It includesan increase in display space by 60 per cent, sevenexhibition spaces, a new centre for British StudioCeramics, and new gardens for fun and outdoorlearning.

The University of York will launch a new BSc inInteractive Media to meet the demands of the thrivingmedia arts industry

This new, multidisciplinary degree will combine theoryand practice, and bring together technical, creativeand socio-cultural perspectives on new media systems,interactive technologies and digital culture.

Taking advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities atthe 30m TFTV centre, the course will take 45 studentseach year to develop their skills in audio and videoproduction, computer programming, graphic designand storytelling, as well as their understanding of thecultural, social and historical impact of interactivemedia.

Image courtesy of Pilot Theatre


29/35

ork will:

est in its world-class media archiving facilities andprove public access to its cultural legacy

rk: Gateway to History is a project to create a 21stntury City Archive, with a grant of 1.57 million from

Heritage Lottery Fund and 200,000 investmentm City of York Council.

e project will involve:

A programme of activities and events to make iteasier for everyone to explore the Archive

Building a new conservation store to ensure theArchives long-term survival

Refurbishing and restoring the first floor of YorkExplore to create a set of public spaces for accessinghe Archives in different ways

Digitising 1,000 noncivic collections within the cityand supporting community groups to record whathey do for the benefit of future generations

Creating a network of individual and group ArchiveChampions across the city to help plan futuredevelopments and enhancements to the Archive

e Friends of York Art Gallery also intend to raise0,000 to fund a new Fine Art Store.

York will:

put cultural programming at the heart of its new TVchannel

Encompassing the creation, production, distribution,and enjoyment of culture in one, York will launch a newbroadcast television channel in 2015.

The recent award of a 12-year licence to Yorkmedia company One&Other by Ofcom (Office ofCommunications) opens up a new and excitingplatform for the media arts ecosystem. Broadcastinginto up to 250,000 homes locally, it will allow Yorkscreative industries to showcase their talent like neverbefore, allow audiences to discover cultural eventsand achievements, and create new jobs an d trainingopportunities for skilled-professionals, students, andthe community at large.

The programming will reflect Yorks rich cultureand emergence in media arts, and fill a gap in theprovision of television content that is focused on Yorkand directly relevant to our locality.

We acknowledge the comparative strengths of existingmembers of the Creative Cities Network in this field, inparticular Sapporo and Lyon. York would welcome theopportunity to learn from the Network and exchangeproduction talent, technical support, programmingideas, content, and experiences. It is proposed that anew purpose-built studio will follow in 2017.

York will:

work with Hull UK City of Culture 2017 to supportcreative industries capacity building

York will work with Hull UK City of Culture to supportcapacity building in the city as well as sharedprogramming and dissemination of research andaudience data. In 2014 we will collaborate with theBBC Insights roadshow allowing creative businesses,writers and promoters to understand the BBCcommissioning processes. We will also collaborate withHull on a planned British Film Institute Talent Incubatorprogramme in Autumn 2014 and with their PlatformExpo Games event.

mages courtesy of Josef Dorninger, OMA International


30/35

ork will:

ace creative and cultural education and explorationthe centre of its lifelong learning opportunities,ltivating a rich and diverse talent base

ilding on major investment in media arts educationcilities and the popular learning initiatives of the citystural institutions, York will ensure its people ha ve theucation and skills that will enable them to reach theirl potential and will stimulate a culture of enterprise,

novation and creativity that is second to none.

part of the Creative Cities Network, York will seekmaximise the contribution of learning and skills toomote:

ndividual expression

rk will encourage participation in media arts as aeans of unlocking the creative potential and self-nfidence of people of all ages, in and out of formalucation.

Sustainable economic growth

rk will attract, nurture and retain kn owledgeable,lled and creative people of all ages to meet theeds of a changing economy and job market.

Enterprise and an enterprising culture

rk will stimulate business start-ups, self-employmentd a support culture to match the citys growth

mbitions in media arts.

York will:

expand its digital and social inclusion strategy,offering support to other cities within the CreativeCities Network with similar ambitions

Working with partners, York is developing a digitalinclusion strategy to ensure residents and businessescan exploit the Super-Connected Cities investmentand better access culture. York will also refresh itspromotion of creativity and creative expressionsamongst vulnerable groups and young people.

Since 2011, City of York Councils Arts & Culture, AdultEducation and Libraries services have worked with avariety of a disadvantaged communities to improvetheir access to digital media and develop their skillson cutting edge internet broadcast and filmingtechnologies to tell their stories through internet radio,film, and video, and commissioned light works for avariety of city festivals and events. The new libraryservice will expand on these media arts accessprogrammes, using digital technologies to transformthe arts experience for a wide range of communitygroups.

York is also embracing the potential of digitaltechnologies to act as a powerful problem-solvingtool, harnessing the collective intelligence, creativity,diversity and resources across the city.

The multi-award-winning GeniUS! innovation platformand processes have already been adopted by CapeTown and would be made available to other membercities.

ojects, policies and exchanges to:

romote creativity

nd creative

xpression

specially among

ulnerable groups

4. Skills inclusion and routes to jobs

York will particularly progress this cultural learning andskills agenda amongst the most disadvantaged andvulnerable communities under a new Media-Arts-for-All programme.

This will enable all residents to access employmentopportunities and pursue creative interests in abalance of both formal and informal learningenvironments. For example, York will champion moreapprenticeships within our creative and culturalindustries as one of the flexible learning options, withYorks cultural bodies aiming to increase the number ofchildren and young people they engage with by 25% by2018.

5. International residencies

A new project accompanying the DMAC will promoteinternational media arts residencies within the CreativeCities Network, which will see students receive studio-space alongside Yorks leading practitioners andopportunities to perform in our world-class venues forall forms of Media Arts: theatre, music, film, digital, artand gaming. The exchange could also culminate inan annual exhibition, to celebrate new and emergingtalent. With such initiatives, member cities can supportcreative and professional development and act as aspringboard to the international stage.

York will:

increase youth access to Media Arts

Yorks creative potential is reliant on tapping into theenergy of its human capital, in particular of the citysyouth and the cultural influences of its growing diversity.

Yorks current and future commitment to its youth isevidenced by its role as the UK-representative in pan-European intercultural youth media projects through theYouth4Media Network for the last 14 years and the citysbid to also become European Youth Capital 2017. Led byYork Youth Council and backed by City of York Council,the proposed programme of activities recognises theability of media arts to inspire and empower youngpeople to achieve their individual and collectivepotential.

Initiatives that would also be embedded into ourCreative Cities membership include:

_ York will host a version of its flagship creativeconference Shift Happens Conference for youngpeople

_ Illuminating York Festival will encompass aninternational youth engagement programme tosupport the development of young talent in thedigital arts field

_ A new training programme will support youngpeople to become 21st century ambassadors for thecity, primarily through digital storytelling, addingvalue to our hospitality industry

_ York@Large will encourage Yorks young to developand direct their own cultural activities

_ Rolling out the virtual classroom service offered byour world-class cultural attractions

Image courtesy of Allan Harris


31/35

York will:

be promoted as an epicentre of cutting-edge cultureand creativity, opening new national and internationalmarkets

York will proactively promote and celebratedesignation from day one.

Media arts presents a new balance to Yorks heritageidentity and a rallying call for the citys residents andits cultural, business and education communities.York would combine these narratives with that of theCreative Cities objectives to form new domestic andinternational marketing campaigns, from a weeklye-newsletter and an official guidebook to broadcastadvertising. As an indication of media spend, the totalsuch spend in 2012-2015 will be in excess of 1 million.

Culture plays a central role in Visit Yorks ambition todouble the value of tourism over the next ten years.This equates to a 1 billi

UNESCO City of Media Arts - York's Bid

Documents

Transcript of UNESCO City of Media Arts - York's Bid