REMIX Summit 2024 (Perth)
21 November 2024 | WA Museum Boola Bardip
The REMIX Summit returns to the WA Museum Boola Bardip later this month, where a gathering of arts, technology, and entrepreneurial leaders will network and explore the future of creative industries and the experience economy. I covered the REMIX Summit for ArtsHub last year, and so I'm curious to revisit the creative, tech head, entrepreneurial nexus to see how the creative landscape has progressed since last year, and where it's headed.
Summit headliners include renowned figures such as Ana Brzezinska from the Tribeca Festival, Sarah Ellis of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Dr. Helen Charman from the V&A, who will discuss innovations currently reshaping cultural experiences globally.
Two major culture-shaping movers and shakers featured this year are Moment Factory – "the most innovative live event company in the world" (Fast Company) – and Fever, known for their high-profile immersive projects, which include Candlelight Concerts and The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience.
Peter Tullen, REMIX Co-Producer, says that, much like last year, "the Summit in Perth will explore the future of culture and the creative industries", and how the cultural shift Tullen calls the "immersive revolution" is impacting Australia's cultural sector.
The future Tullen foresees is one that continues to lean heavily on technologies that meet the growing demand for immersive entertainment experiences, which typically means a hybrid mash-up of digital and physical elements.
"Cultural organisations and creative entrepreneurs around the world are developing new types of creative experiences that are bringing people back into our cities and fuelling new forms of tourism such as immersive experiences," says Tullen. “New technologies such as AI and XR are transforming the future of storytelling, online, in-person and through hybrid experiences. As the experience economy rapidly evolves, Australia’s creative industries need to be ready to tap into this booming market.”
Consequently, Perth-focused coverage will include topics such as the transformation of Perth’s CBD into a Central Experience District, the role of cultural tourism, advancements in storytelling through technology, and the economic impact of the creative sector.
Backed by the City of Perth and the Australian Government’s freshly minted National Cultural Policy, Revive, representing a $286 million funding boost, local speakers will focus on the City’s aspirations of positioning Perth as a major hub in the evolving global creative economy.
WA speakers include Perth Festival, the WA Museum, FORM, Fremantle Biennale, the new Perth Film Studios and Briege Whitehead, Co Founder, White Spark Pictures – creators of global VR box office hit The Antarctica Experience
Hon. David Alan Templeman MLA. DipTchg; BEd. Minister for Culture and the Arts; Sport and Recreation; International Education; Heritage says of REMIX: “I am delighted that the Cook Government is investing in vibrant and activating events such as this. Remix is an exciting summit where the future of cultural tourism is imagined and I am especially proud to see Briege Whitehead listed as a speaker.”
The event will examine issues, challenges, and opportunities relevant to WA, addressing four key themes:
How the CBD can be reinvented as a Central Experience District on the back of the fast-growing experience economy
Cultural Tourism, specifically the kinds of ideas driving cultural tourism around the world
How new technologies shaping the future of storytelling
A re-imagining of the cultural institutions and how the creative economy can play a key role in Australia’s future
Other speakers include the Creative Technologist & Artist-in-Residence of Leonardo.Ai (Canva), on what the AI revolution means for creatives, Wētā (Lord of the Rings, Deadpool, Avatar), and Epic Games (Unreal Engine & Esports phenomenon 'Fortnite').
Beyond the big names and innovations, a recurring concern for small scale local artists is that they’re being left behind in favour of large scale immersive digital entertainment. The Creative Australia initiative is just over a year old, so it’s early days as far as it having a positive impact for local and independent artists. Meanwhile, local arts entities are still struggling to make ends meet. At a REMIX Q&A last year, Perth independent artists and small arts companies expressed their frustrations of needing to hustle for private money and navigate Australia’s archaic state and federal arts grant systems.
As an arts grants writer, I’ve seen no change in how grants are accessed or how they’re awarded, even among celebrated arts companies that have been hustling to survive for over a decade. I’m curious to see if this year’s REMIX will offer new solutions or insights regarding the ongoing challenges of WA’s small scale arts operations, and how stakeholders think the new initiative is working… or not.
Full details of the event can be found here