University’s new head of Media, Art and Design launches Creative Futures event

Wrexham Glyndwr University’s new head of Media, Art and Design kick started the Creative Futures conference on Monday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The institution is holding a four-day creative industries conference this week, to raise the quality of artistic work being developed in North Wales and help students develop employability, entrepreneurship and professional development. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Alec Shepley, the newly appointed head of Media, Arts and Design School, at Wrexham Glyndwr University, gave the keynote lecture at the Creative Futures event, outlining key concepts for the school to have a successful future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kick starting the event and addressing students and staff, Professor Shepley, said: “I’m using this opportunity to tell you about me, my own work and my ideas for the school and for you. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This week we’re aiming to provide insight into realities of working in the creative industry, help improve employability, and provide opportunities to meet people in the industry so students can network beyond the university and into what people call ‘the real world’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We already work well with the North Wales community which is really important. We must look at partnerships we wish to create and work with agencies in the UK to help monetise our ideas.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the seminar Professor Shepley said the creative industry generates £30 million a year for the UK economy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Creative Futures week has brought more than 250 media, art and design experts and practitioners from all over the world to this region since its inception in 2009. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Shepley’s own artistic works have been show nationally and internationally and his research has attracted funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the British Council, the Arts Council of England and the Arts Council of Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added: “Teaching is the university’s priority and the ultimate aim for students this week is to get a much better idea of employability. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There is a new world opening up and we must change with it and we are ready I think to take this change. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our big issue is impact. Impact we must demonstrate as an organisation to get the funding we need to achieve our ideas. Impact leads to value which will get us noticed.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

While the professor addressed students, staff and visitors, Fran O’Hara, visual communications specialist, captured the presentation with a ‘visual minute’ by drawing key aspects of the seminar live on stage. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Creative Futures week includes a diverse programme of workshops, talks and panels. It host an abundance of creative professionals who will share their knowledge, insight and experiences. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For the full programme of events visit http://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/creativefutures/timetable.html ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​