It’s back and returning to Oxfordshire this summer! Following a three-year gap due to the pandemic, the Oxfordshire Creative Industries Showcase is here with the event set to highlight one of the most-vibrant and successful sectors in the county.

Jointly-led by OxLEP and Oxford Brookes University, the Oxfordshire Creative Industries Showcase will return to the university’s Headington campus on Tuesday 21 June, starting at 10am.

As well as demonstrating the breadth of creativity and innovation that exists within the creative industries sector, plus the opportunities available to young ‘creatives’ in Oxfordshire, the celebration will particularly focus on why effective and engaging storytelling is key and Oxfordshire’s contribution to the post-pandemic regeneration of the UK’s creative sector.

It will bring together innovators, local and national businesses, entrepreneurs, national sector bodies and representatives, industry leaders and influencers to continue to champion the creative industries in Oxfordshire at a local, national, and international level around this year’s theme of ‘Celebrating Oxfordshire’s role in the UK’s creative economy’.

It will also engage teachers and school leaders to highlight the potential of future careers for Oxfordshire’s young people in the creative industries.

The day will focus on a series of panel sessions curated by key partners in the event, Oxford Brookes University, University of Oxford TORCH, and OxLEP. Various networking opportunities will be available with the event concluding with a drinks reception.

Our showcase programme consists of:

9.30am to 10am:
Arrival and networking

10am to 10.20am:
Introductory address: Nigel Tipple – Chief Executive, OxLEP and Professor Joe Tah – Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Technology, Design and Environment at Oxford Brookes University

10.20am to 11.05am:
Panel session: ‘Rethinking the economy: The future is creative’:

How can we ensure the creative industries play a key role in economic growth, provide social benefits for communities, and play a part with the levelling up agenda?

The sector has faced many challenges over the last few years due to the pandemic. This panel will discuss future opportunities and priorities for economic growth of the sector (i.e. facilitating collaboration across partners (colleges and universities, creative organisations, business, finance and local authorities); supporting and harnessing emerging technologies, new experiences and audiences, whilst recognising the need to adapt to a post-pandemic world).

Hosted by:
John Newbigin OBE – Creative England

Panellists:

• Professor Andrew Chitty – Audience of the Future
• Nigel Tipple – OxLEP
• Dr Judie M Gannon – Oxford Brookes Business School

11.05am to 11.15am:
Break

11.15am to 12.15pm:
Panel session: ‘Storytelling and… spaces, places and the visitor economy’

This ‘lightening talk’ panel session aims to explore the untapped creative potentials of the city of Oxford.

Looking beyond Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter, panellists will propose new ideas on how to explore storytelling as a unique form of cultural heritage through its tangible and intangible forms.

From the Cowley Road Carnival and its community focus, the literary festival and its role in the edutainment industry, as well as the potential of dark and film tourism, participants will discuss how a new and needed focus for storytelling can enhance an alternative cultural life of the city, while attracting new audiences to boost the visitor economy.

Hosted by:
Dr Nicole Ferdinand – Oxford School of Hospitality Management

Contributions from:

• Dr Hanna Klien-Thomas – Research Fellow Creative Industries, Oxford Brookes University: Cowley Road Carnival – Caribbean legacies, embodied remembering and creative spaces in Oxford
• Dr Brianna Wyatt – Senior Lecturer: Dark Tourism and Events Management, Oxford Brookes University: Dark storytelling: Re-enacting the macabre past.
• Dr James Cateridge – Senior Lecturer in Film, Oxford Brookes University: Mapping Stories: Screen Tourism in Oxford.

12.15pm to 1.15pm:
Lunch and networking opportunities

1.15pm to 2.15pm:
Panel session: ‘Storytelling and… gamification’ (interactive session)

University of Oxford TORCH panel look to discuss the gamification of research-led narratives, exploring an innovative project which uses the power of AI-conversation (Charisma.ai) to engage audiences with literary subjects including Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. To include interactive engagement using immersive media with the audience to experience one of the prototypes.

Hosted by:
Tasha Patel – TORCH, University of Oxford and Dr Victoria McGuinness – TORCH, University of Oxford

Panellists:

• Rachael Hodge – Charisma.ai
• Lucy Askew – Creation Theatre
• Lucy Fleming – University of Oxford
• Marion Turner – University of Oxford

2.15pm to 2.25pm:
Break

2.25pm to 3.20pm:
Panel session: ‘Imagining the future of storytelling’

In Oxfordshire, imagining the future is in our DNA; His Dark Materials, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter, all complete universes which take for granted no boundaries and unlimited horizons, prefiguring the complex worlds of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality.

Our storytelling talent crosses individual sectors (AI, gaming, literature, TV, film, art, theatre, music, publishing, comedy) but it also thrives within its own spheres.

What does the future have in store for reading, storytelling and the ‘text’ in a world where visual media is increasingly dominant? What will the city and county look like in 10 years’ time. Panellists are invited to share what they see in their crystal balls.

Hosted by:
Daniela Treveri Gennari – Oxford Brookes University, CIRIN chair

Panellists:

• M.G. Harris – Author
• Caroline Jones – Story Museum
• Claire Barry – Line Producer and OTMN Chair
• Brian Mitchell – Independent Digital Content Producer

3.20pm to 3.50pm:
Brookes Creative Initiative

Students will showcase the new enterprise and employability provision to support and grow The School of Arts’ professional network with the Creative Industries through live projects, internships and placements, residencies and consultancy at Oxford Brookes University. 

They are the conduit for connecting businesses and organisations with innovative creative students and staff from our diverse portfolio of disciplines.

Designed by students as partners in conjunction with the Employability and Enterprise Lead in the School of Arts, this service aims to meet the needs of three main stakeholders; employers, students and staff. They will present how they came to being, their vision for the future and how industry members can connect for mutual benefit.

3.50pm to 4.30pm:
Reception and networking, sponsored by OxLEP plus ‘Careers Capture Booth’ by Film Oxford Production:

During the drinks reception, informal capture of how our audience got into their career.

Sign-up now to attend the Oxfordshire Creative Industries Showcase 2022