Digital Innovations to be Celebrated at FOCUS Wales 2018!

Leading thinkers, artists and entrepreneurs from the world of digital innovation will be coming to FOCUS Wales 2018 for three days of presentations, discussions and live demonstrations.

Building upon the success of Digital Innovations Day at FOCUS Wales 2017, and sponsored by the Welsh Government, this year’s digital programme aims to be bigger than ever before.

Taking place from Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th May, the event will explore the best practice in digital innovations in the creative industries in Wales and around the world, how these innovations can help to grow and support Welsh businesses.

The digital programme forms part of FOCUS Wales wider interactive conference, all taking place at Tŷ Pawb, the new £4.5M arts and community hub in the heart of Wrexham town centre.

It will feature education organisations including the Manchester School of Art, The British and Irish Modern Music Institute, Wrexham Glyndwr University and Science Made Simple, arts organisations including 73 Degree Films, MOSTYN, StudioMade and the Lucie Lee Dance Company; as well as blockchain experts Blockpool, VR specialists Vorteka, innovation experts Town Square Spaces, representatives of SXSW’s UK and Ireland team, and many more.

Neal Thompson, co-founder of FOCUS Wales said: “We’re thrilled to be able to bring Digital Innovations back to FOCUS Wales 2018. The creative sector is changing rapidly, and we know that through events such as this, we can support Welsh artists and businesses in leading the way.

“We have an incredible line-up of contributors joining us this year, and we can’t wait to welcome them, and the wider-business community to our festival, which promises to be the biggest and best yet.”

Activities taking place include panel discussions exploring the cutting-edge innovations that are changing the face of the creative sector, how businesses can benefit when art and science come together, and how digital innovations can help to promote equality and diversity in the creative industries.

There will also be a host of live interactive demonstrations, including robotics, virtual reality, technology infused performance, and a wealth of networking opportunities throughout the whole festival.

The digital programme will be headlined by Kris Halpin, a singer, songwriter, and self-titled ‘SEN/D Rock Star’, whose work explores the intersection between art, technology and disability, and his shows have toured internationally.

Kris was one of the first artists to use Mi.Mu gloves, the pioneering gestural musical instrument devised by Grammy Award-winning musician Imogen Heap and Kris will be joining us to talk about talking about his work, and demonstrate the Mi.Mu gloves with a live performance.

FOCUS Wales wristband holders have full access to the Digital Innovations programme of events, plus access to the full FOCUS Wales interactive conference and access to the full FOCUS Wales programme of live music, with over 200 live music performances from Wales and around the world.

Picture: Kris Haplin taken by Lee Cogswell