11.11.21
Extraordinary Insights
Stimulating insights from inspirational leaders from the creative industries, exploring transformational cultural projects, storytelling in immersive environments and designing sustainable projects.
extraordinary insights
10:00 - 10:45 (UK - GMT) / 14:00 - 14:45 (UAE - GST)
transformational cultural projects
Presenters: Darren Barker and Eric Langham, Founders, Barker Langham
Barker Langham is one of the world’s leading cultural consultancies, creating pioneering and sustainable projects for museums, historical sites, governments and charities. They are expert advisors and mentors for the UK Heritage Fund, The International Council of Museums (ICOM), the European Union and UNESCO. Barker Langham has been working in the Middle East since 2005, and has developed an impressive portfolio of projects across the region and a deep appreciation of the history, heritage and thriving cultural scene, as well as a nuanced understanding of local audiences and markets. "Wherever we are working, we aim to excite, inspire and engage visitors and our clients, who range from governments and academic institutions to commercial and charitable organisations". Their portfolio includes Expo 2020 Dubai, Museum of London West Smithfield, West Kowloon Cultural District, National Museum of Qatar and House of European History.
"Our lives consist of a series of experiences. These experiences – both good and bad – shape and transform us. They make us who we are." In this talk founders, Darren Barker and Eric Langham will show how cultural experiences can transform people, diversify economies, define nations and make the world a better place.
10:45 - 11:15 (UK - GMT) / 14:45 – 15:15 (UAE - GST)
using the power of animated stories to change culture
Presenter: Colin Williams, Creative Director, Sixteen South
Founded in 2007, Sixteen South has grown from an idea in the head of Founder and Creative Director Colin Williams, to a group that currently employs over 100 talented people in downtown Belfast, Northern Ireland. It has created and produced over 460 episodes of 11 hit kids shows, over half of which are its own creations. In this session, Colin will share the inspiration behind setting up the company and the importance of animated stories to bring change and effect to kids across the world.
11:45 - 12:15 (UK - GMT) / 15:45 - 14:15 (UAE - GMT)
how we create at kps
Presenter: Stephen Taylor, Operations Director, KPS World
Stephen will be looking at the journey of creating a new space, or converting an existing one…
Especially the way that KPS uses the latest digital technologies at every stage to make that process simpler, more efficient and more transparent for our clients.
SCULPTURE TALK
Presenter: Nicola Anthony
Nicola Anthony is a British artist whose artworks can be found in museums and public spaces around the world. She is known for her metal sculptures, entangled installations and burned paper assemblages which are inspired by the ideas of place, belonging, language and correlations.
In the days running up to the ‘How will we Create?’ event, Nicola is building a sculpture in the UK Pavilion, created from suspended fragments of found and recycled materials. The found materials have been collected from UK and Dubai beaches, with thanks to Companies for Good who helped Nicola gather ghost nets and beach refuse in Dubai.
12:15 - 12:45 (UK - GMT) / 16:15 - 16:45 (UAE - GMT)
designing sustainable projcts (Architecture)
Presenter: Simon Fraser, Senior Partner, Principal of Hopkins Architects Limited, and Managing Director of the Dubai Office, Hopkins Architects
Simon Fraser was born and raised in Hong Kong and currently lives in London, splitting his time between Hopkins Architects’ offices in London, Dubai and Tokyo. He studied at the Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow and the Architectural Association in London before joining Hopkins Architects in 1990. After studying at Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music with a Leverhulme Postgraduate Fellowship, he worked for the Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa in Tokyo before returning to Hopkins Architects in 1994. In 2000, he was a finalist for The Young Architect of the Year Award.
Hopkins Architects has been instrumental in the design of Expo 2020 - The Theme Districts. They comprise 86 permanent buildings spread over three separate ‘petals’, housing 136 participating countries. In this session, Simon will discuss the importance of sustainability throughout the design, construction, use and post-Expo 2020 Dubai life of the structure.
ON DEMAND
storytelling in immersive environments
Presenter: Professor Sophy Smith, Professor in Creative Technologies Practice, Director of the Institute of Creative Technologies, De Montfort University
Professor Sophy Smith is the Director of the Institute of Creative Technologies and De Montfort University’s Digital Arts Performance Practice, Emerging Research (DAPPER) – a space where people working in all areas of digital performance can come together to capture, share, discuss, experiment and develop work and ideas relating to digital art and performance. DAPPER argues that while many individuals work within their own specialist area or sector, innovation occurs when there are opportunities to collaborate and cooperate with others. In this session, Sophy explores innovation through transdisciplinary teams, relating to immersive creative practice and in particular, live performance. She will share her insights gained from the large-scale project funded by the UK Research and Innovation, discussing the importance of partnership between academia, government, and the private sector to foster creative and collaborative environments.