talks & consultancies

Talks and Consultancies

UN WSIS

United Nations World Summit on the Information Society

The Digital Divide is one of the world’s most challenging issues, both on the business level, and in terms of promotion of a real civil society. The United Nations founded the World Summit on the Information Society, specifically aimed at addressing this issue, and promoting the civil governance of international digital telecommunication. We were honoured to be asked to contribute to the UN WSIS Vienna Declaration, and to speak for the UN WSIS audience on issues of Digital Rights Management and copyright for artists.
BBC PAL LABS

Performance Art Lab on Digital Futures

We had the privilege to participate in a two-week BBC lab on the future of performance in a digital landscape.
BBC Radio 1

One Live in Nottingham

One week each year, BBC Radio 1 takes over a city's main music venues, and runs a series of workshops for the music industry. We presented a talk on the visual aspects of clubland and concert culture.
BBC 1Xtra

Exploring American youth culture

In the weeks running up to the launch of the BBC's digital black music station, we consulted on American youth and street culture.
Saatchi & Saatchi

Youth Culture Futures

At one of the most dynamic times in Saatchi & Saatchi's history, we served as consultants on Youth Culture across the UK and Europe, with a particular emphasis on youth media and music.
Venice Biennale

Exploring the Digital Surface

The Venice Biennale is the world's greatest art gathering and exhibition. In 1999, we presented a talk on photography and the digital surface, emphasising reception and a psychoanalytic perspective.
Banff

Banff Interactive Screen

The Banff Interactive Screen festival is one of the planet’s most interesting media festivals, bringing together creative’s from around the globe, under the advocacy of Director Sara Diamond (now President of the Ontario College of Art and Design). We were pleased to both speak on panels at the Banff Interactive Screen Festival, as well as create a performance for the Banff Arts Festival.
UN WSA

United Nations World Summit Awards

Dr Charles Kriel, Director of Black Swan Media, served as the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society Awards National Expert in New Media for the United Kingdom. As such, he organizes, curates and advocates for UK new media works created in the context of the civil society. At one recent UN WSIS Awards ceremony in Tunisia, the UK swept the awards, with works from the BBC, the National Theatre, and Direct Gov.
ISEA

Helsinki - Riga

When ISEA (Inter Society for Electronic Arts) took their prestigious annual conference to sea, we were happy to join along and give our first ever talk (on AV technologies) on a cruise liner. The bomb!
b.Tween

The best of digital creativity and programming

b.Tween is one of the finest and best-curated conferences of digital creativity and multi-platform programming around. We've been fortunate to rpesent work twice - once in a joint talk with Gary Carter concerning the future of social media, and once as part of our project, The White Island. And we're looking forward to b.Tween 2009!
Westminster Uni

Visiting Lectures - MA Digital Media

Our good friend Dr Richard Barbrook has privileged us with several visits to the University of Westminster, where we've presented talks on photography and the digital surface, interactive media theory, and media futures.
Winchester Uni

University of Winchester Department of Dance

We presented a masterclass to the dance students at the University of Winchester, emphasising narrative theory and structure. How do they do it in the movies? How about TV? Can three-act structure (or five) apply to dance?
UMich

Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Visitors Series

Two visits to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor have convinced us they have one of the most dynamic, forward-thinking art departments on the planet. First, we went as part of the Stamps Distinguished Visitor Series (which has also featured Laurie Anderson, Amy Goodman, Orlan, Stelarc, Krzysztof Wodiczko, Guillermo Gomez-Pena and Sarah Sze, among others. The second time, we appeared at the Ann Arbor Film Festival. And, of course, game master classes and visits in the film and art departments.
promax/bda

Appearance with Gary Carter

promax/bda provide education, celebration and interaction for creative and strategic professionals in the business of entertainment and information content marketing, promotion and design. We were fortunate to appear with Gary Carter in a unique talk/performance.
Pioneer ProDJ

Consulting on AV products and performance

We've been privileged to be in from the beginning with analysing the new DVJ line of digital DJ decks from Pioneer, and were consulted regularly on the development of the SVM-1000, a paradigm shifting AV mixer concept from Pioneer ProDJ, the market leaders in professional DJ kit.
Otis

Masterclass on DVJ technologies

Otis College of Art & Design is one of the world's great art institutions. To accompany our performance there, we were asked to create a masterclass in AV performance technologies.
NESTA

Consultation on AV technologies and futures

NESTA is one of the most innovative creative investment institutions in the world. When they were looking to explore the future of audio-visual performance technologies, particularly in clubland and oriented around youth culture, we were happy to lend what we knew.
MOMA Oxford

Talks

We've given several talks at Modern Art Oxford, one of the UK's more distinguished art spaces. From explorations of AV youth culture, through analysis of contemporary art and artists, our talks have covered a broad range of topics and audiences.
IMS Ibiza

International Music Summit, hosted by Pete Tong

At the first International Music Summit in Ibiza, hosted by Pete Tong, we were happy to host a roundtable discussion on visual culture in clubland, featuring members of LemonJelly, several international producers, and Pete Tong discussing the visual aspect of his new Ibiza clubnight, Wonderland.
ICA London

Discussion of handheld technologies and digital video

Sponsored by Hutchison 3G UK, and hosted by Philip Dodd, a series of roundtable breakfasts sought to explore the future of creative technology, and develop strategies for future implimentations at the network level.
Cybersonica

Noise and the Uncanny

Cybersonica is organized by our good friend Lewis Sykes, and has presented a dynamic vision on performance, music and culture for nearly a decade. We were pleased to present our talk, "Noise and the uncanny", exploring issues of noise and resolution from a psychoanalytic perspective.
Bournemouth Uni

Practice-based research

Much maligned, and almost universally misunderstood, Practice-based Research is a controversial issue amongst many academics, in the UK and globally. Nonetheless, it is one of the most dynamic developments in research over the last two decades. When Bournemouth were looking for a consultant to discuss the potential of practice-based research PhDs for their staff, they came to our Managing Director, Dr Chalres Kriel.
AVU Prague

Academy of Fine Art - Prague

This was another in a series of talks around the world, discussing "Noise and the Uncanny". Sponsored by the British Council.

United Nations World Summit on the Information Society

Performance Art Lab on Digital Futures

We had the privilege to participate in a two-week BBC lab on the future of performance in a digital landscape.

One Live in Nottingham

One week each year, BBC Radio 1 takes over a city's main music venues, and runs a series of workshops for the music industry. We presented a talk on the visual aspects of clubland and concert culture.

Exploring American youth culture

In the weeks running up to the launch of the BBC's digital black music station, we consulted on American youth and street culture.

Youth Culture Futures

At one of the most dynamic times in Saatchi & Saatchi's history, we served as consultants on Youth Culture across the UK and Europe, with a particular emphasis on youth media and music.

Exploring the Digital Surface

The Venice Biennale is the world's greatest art gathering and exhibition. In 1999, we presented a talk on photography and the digital surface, emphasising reception and a psychoanalytic perspective.

Banff Interactive Screen

United Nations World Summit Awards

Helsinki - Riga

When ISEA (Inter Society for Electronic Arts) took their prestigious annual conference to sea, we were happy to join along and give our first ever talk (on AV technologies) on a cruise liner. The bomb!

The best of digital creativity and programming

Visiting Lectures - MA Digital Media

Our good friend Dr Richard Barbrook has privileged us with several visits to the University of Westminster, where we've presented talks on photography and the digital surface, interactive media theory, and media futures.

University of Winchester Department of Dance

We presented a masterclass to the dance students at the University of Winchester, emphasising narrative theory and structure. How do they do it in the movies? How about TV? Can three-act structure (or five) apply to dance?

Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Visitors Series

Appearance with Gary Carter

promax/bda provide education, celebration and interaction for creative and strategic professionals in the business of entertainment and information content marketing, promotion and design. We were fortunate to appear with Gary Carter in a unique talk/performance.

Consulting on AV products and performance

We've been privileged to be in from the beginning with analysing the new DVJ line of digital DJ decks from Pioneer, and were consulted regularly on the development of the SVM-1000, a paradigm shifting AV mixer concept from Pioneer ProDJ, the market leaders in professional DJ kit.

Masterclass on DVJ technologies

Otis College of Art & Design is one of the world's great art institutions. To accompany our performance there, we were asked to create a masterclass in AV performance technologies.

Consultation on AV technologies and futures

NESTA is one of the most innovative creative investment institutions in the world. When they were looking to explore the future of audio-visual performance technologies, particularly in clubland and oriented around youth culture, we were happy to lend what we knew.

Talks

We've given several talks at Modern Art Oxford, one of the UK's more distinguished art spaces. From explorations of AV youth culture, through analysis of contemporary art and artists, our talks have covered a broad range of topics and audiences.

International Music Summit, hosted by Pete Tong

At the first International Music Summit in Ibiza, hosted by Pete Tong, we were happy to host a roundtable discussion on visual culture in clubland, featuring members of LemonJelly, several international producers, and Pete Tong discussing the visual aspect of his new Ibiza clubnight, Wonderland.

Discussion of handheld technologies and digital video

Sponsored by Hutchison 3G UK, and hosted by Philip Dodd, a series of roundtable breakfasts sought to explore the future of creative technology, and develop strategies for future implimentations at the network level.

Noise and the Uncanny

Cybersonica is organized by our good friend Lewis Sykes, and has presented a dynamic vision on performance, music and culture for nearly a decade. We were pleased to present our talk, "Noise and the uncanny", exploring issues of noise and resolution from a psychoanalytic perspective.

Practice-based research

Academy of Fine Art - Prague

This was another in a series of talks around the world, discussing "Noise and the Uncanny". Sponsored by the British Council.