YORK

UNESCO
CITY OF
MEDIA
ARTS
PLAN
2015/16

WITH THANKS TO THOSE

SUPPORTING THE BID_
Steering Group

Creative individuals & organisations

Cultural institutions

Researchers

York@Large

Stage One
Bright White
Revolution Software
KMA
Pilot Theatre
Aesthetica
Inspired Youth
The Knife That Killed Me
Theremin Bollards
Isotoma
LazenbyBrown
Punk Pie
The Beautiful Meme
Continuum Group
According to McGee
KhaoZ Media
WeEnrich
MilesTone Films
Mark Herman
Deborah Bowness
Peter Lord CBE

York Minster
Yorkshire Film Archive
York Art Gallery
York Theatre Royal
University of York Sound Archives
York Museums Trust
Jorvik Museum
National Railway Museum
New School House Gallery
York St Marys
Inclusive Arts
Converge
New Visuality
Accessible Arts & Media
York Grand Opera House
York Barbican
Friargate Theatre
The Joseph Rowntree Theatre
Heslington Studios
City Screen Picturehouse
The South Bank Community Cinema
National Centre for Early Music
The Duchess
The Black Swan Folk Club
The Basement
House Concerts
TFTV

Professor Nick Holliman

Dr Jenna Ng
Dr Sandra Pauletto
Dr Ambrose Field
Dr Damian Murphy
Richard Walsh
Daniel Kudenko
Professor Gary Peters
Dr Matthew Reason
Professor Adair
Dr Claire Hind
Saffron Walkling
Research Centre for Occupation and Mental Health
The Centre for Digital Heritage
The Interdisciplinary Centre for Narrative Studies

Official support
Cllr. Julie Gunnell, The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor of York
(2013/2014)
Cllr Ian Gillies, The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor of York
(2014/2015)
Cllr Sonja Crisp, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and
Tourism
Kersten England, Chief Executive, City of York Council
Cllr. James Alexander, Leader, City of York Council

Bid Patrons
Greg Dyke, Chancellor at University of York
Charles Cecil MBE, CEO of Revolution Games

Bid Management Group

Gill Cooper, City of York Council
Stuart Goulden, Like No Other & Co
Marcus Romer, Pilot Theatre
Tom Sharp, The Beautiful Meme
Mat Lazenby, LazenbyBrown
Heather Niven, SCY
Simon Newton

Letters of Endorsement
Arts Council England
NESTA
Creative & Cultural Skills
UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC)
Hull City of Culture 2017
Leeds City Council
Lyon City of Media Arts
Enghien-les-Bains City of Media Arts
Sapporo City of Media Arts

Media
BBC Radio York
The Press
One&Other
York Mix
Aesthetica Magazine
Minster FM
Yorkshire Art Journal
Local Link
Soundsphere Magazine

Illuminating York 2009

Image courtesy of Allan Harris

Academic institutions
University of York
York St John University
York College
Askham Bryan College
Manor CE Academy
Canon Lee Specialist Arts College

Festivals
Illuminating York
York Human Rights Festival
York Mystery Plays
Aesthetica Short Film Festival
York Stories
The Jorvik Viking Festival
Early Music Festival
Festival of Ideas
Theatre Caf York
York Open Studios
York Literature Festival
Create Your Future

Conferences & Symposia

No Boundaries
Shift Happens
TEDxYork
Innovation in Music
Venturefest

Production Centres
Bar Lane Studios
The Phoenix Centre
Ron Cooke Hub
York Science Park
Heslington Studios
Green Screen Studios
THE HIVE
Middletons

Other partners
Visit York
City of York Council
Creative England
United by Design
Screen Yorkshire
York Youth Council
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Explore libraries
The Borthwick Institute of Archives
Learning City York
Higher York partnership
Welcome to Yorkshire
York Civic Trust
Make It York
Yorks residents and business community

WORKING TOGETHER
AS YORK, UNESCO CITY
OF MEDIA ARTS_

INTRODUCTION
On 1 December 2014, the Director-General
of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, designated
York as a UNESCO City of Media Arts
and the newest members of the Creative
Cities Network.
The Creative Cities Network now comprises
69cities from all the regions of the
world and aims to develop international
cooperation among cities that acknowledge
and seek to support creativity as a strategic
driver for sustainable development, through
multi-stakeholder global partnerships.

This report has been developed in close

collaboration with key stakeholders
and industry bodies, and considers the
challenges and opportunities facing
York as a Creative City, along with a
plan of ambitious targets that will drive
growth and job creation in the sector.
It also proposes an organisational
structure for managing designation
after consultation with existing
members of the Network.

York Minster at Night

Image courtesy of Allan Harris

A DEFINITION
OF MEDIA ARTS_
Media Arts is defined as the integration of new media
technologies into creative practice and social exchange.
This includes disciplines such as video games, computer
animation, digital and interactive art, sound art, film,
television and theatre.
In York, it is an activity partaken in by professional artists,
designers, academics, researchers, enthusiasts, the general
public and voluntary sector.

Illuminating York 2009

Image courtesy of Allan Harris

mediacityyork.com

10 BENEFITS OF
DESIGNATION_

1_

Contemporary culture will

6_

Yorks creative talent

be more visibly celebrated and

will be retained in the city and

accessible in the city, with new

others will be drawn here as

projection points and digital

our creative industries thrive

facades
2_

An iconic Digital &

7_

York will recognise and

Media Arts Centre (DMAC)

reward its creative talent with

will be built, blending creative

an annual awards ceremony,

invention, participation and

acting as a platform to

industry

international markets

3_

8_

York will benefit from

York will be a place that

the thought leadership and

promotes the value of diversity

ingenuity of the worlds

of people, ideas,

other leading creative

and cultures

cities as active members of the

network
4_ There will be a new drive

9_

for sponsorship of media arts

a place that is inventive,

events, adding new dimensions

pioneering and surprising

to our already-popular festivals

complementing its

York will be known as

historical charm
5_

Creative education will

be embedded at the heart of

international crossroads for

the learning experience for all

the worlds ideas and creativity

ages, including new overseas

once more

residencies and exchanges

Photo courtesy of Bright White

10_ York will be an

WHERE ARE WE NOW?_

For two millennia, York has been

exciting global network of digital

making its cultural and creative output

The quest for UNESCO City of Media

the meeting point for the ideas and

facades and artists, using media arts

available across boundaries.

Arts designation began with a desire to

creativity of the world. Through digital

to explore urban issues. Through the

media it is finding itself once more.

network, York is linked to partners

With Yorks economy expected to

to realise its full value for all. It is now

in other leading creative cities such

continue growing, we aim to ensure

up to us to make it happen.

The legacy of Yorks standing as the

as Berlin, Sao Paulo, Linz, Istanbul,

everybody feels the benefits. Creative

social capital of the north is all around

Brussels, Madrid, Vienna, Montreal,

activity and economic prosperity

us: iconic architecture, renowned

Melbourne, and Helsinki.

has always followed a dedication to

unlock the citys creative potential and

social equality and the flourishing of

bookshops, galleries and theatres,

world-class museums and archives,

These evident strengths in media arts

human talent, rooted in the values

and the contemporary interpretation

and its supporting technologies allow

of the citys famous chocolatiers and

of this heritage for a thriving tourism

York to play a part as a centre for new

philanthropists, the Rowntrees. Yorks

industry. This melting pot of assets

ideas and art forms in the 21st Century,

precedent as the UKs first Living Wage

has always cultivated an appetite for

both reaching into the world and

City and the York Fairness Commission

education, culture, and self-expression

drawing the world towards us.

are embodiments of this commitment,

sitting side by side with the values

that has allowed the people of York to

make a highly distinctive contribution

The bid that led to UNESCO

of openness and collaboration

to culture in the UK.

designation recognised the driving

empowered by the digital age and the

contribution of media arts to the citys

values of UNESCO.

Constantly evolving in its history, Yorks

quality of life, the ingenuity of the

latest chapter is gathering real pace

local economy, high levels of public

York is excited about the prospect

with creative industries the fastest

participation, and the investment in

of sharing these experiences and

growing area of its economy. As

the human capital in our academic

exploring new ideas with the Creative

recently as last month, Yorks creative

institutions. Yorks creative community

Cities Network. It will also prompt

artists and institutions received

is increasingly making its mark abroad

greater cultural collaboration with

international recognition for a decades

through best-selling computer games,

our regional neighbours such as Hull,

creative endeavour as Illuminating

new music technology, immersive

Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford.

Yorks joined the Connecting Cities

digital playgrounds, cutting-edge

network. Connecting Cities is an

museum interpretation, and by

Photo courtesy of Illuminating York

WHERE DO WE WANT TO GET TO?

Vision
York is to be internationally recognised

through digital artworks and people

as a place of outstanding media arts

are given greater access to technology

invention and experiences.

and creative opportunities be it an

interactive front row seat, a place

Official accreditation is treated as an

on stage, tools in the workshop, or

invitation to become world leaders

encouragement in the classroom.

in the art form and a beacon for the

exploration of creative pursuits and

Our 2,000-year standing as a cultural

professions. It is by doing so that we

capital will continue as creativity is

will truly become a City of Media

embedded into the fabric of the city

Arts and feel the benefits of the citys

and its development plans, bringing

undisputed creative and economic

benefits for many future generations.

Aspirations

potential.
As part of this transformation this plan

__To double the proportion of schools

Particular focus is on giving life to

sets out four major aspirations for

in the area with Arts Council

Yorks new UNESCO designation and

Yorks creative sector:

Artsmark accreditation from 17%

to 34% by 2025

achieving the desired outcomes of

the Creative Cities Network mission

__To double the size Yorks creative

through partnership working. As

economy* from 164.8m to 329.6m

the city becomes more global in its

by 2025

outlook, York will once more share

its cultural influence on the world
stage as a birthplace of brilliant new

__To increase engagement in the Arts**

from 50.3% to 75% by 2025

__To increase the proportion of

cultural tourists from 17% to 25%,
contributing to a doubling of the
value of tourism to York to 1bn
by 2025

ideas, whilst embracing the innovative

thinking of others. This will be visible

* Defined as the Information and Communication

sector by Oxford Economics
** As reported by DCMS on Active People. Baseline
taken from 2010 figures.

for all to see as Yorks streets and

famous built heritage come alive

Illuminating York 2014

Image courtesy of Allan Harris

HOW WILL WE GET THERE?_

Photo courtesy of ASFF 2014 and Jim Poyner

The Challenge - a situational analysis

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

__ Civic leadership/support

__ Visibility and interactivity of artworks

__ New Destination Management Organisation

__ Grow-on space

__ Digital & Creative economy growth

__ Links with national professional bodies

__ Research & Innovation

__ Heritage planning sensitivities

__ World-class creative organisations

__ Size and frequency of commissions

__ International exchanges

__ Ongoing funding challenges

__ Creative learning & skills development

__ International networks and exchanges

__ New funding models

__ Weight of heritage-led cultural identity

__ Social innovation and inclusivity

__ Lack of Media Art awards

__ Museum and stage interpretation

__ Accessible media arts venues and production spaces

__ Joined up cultural programme across full spectrum

of creative activity

__ Realigning and reprioritising stakeholder initiatives

towards City of Media Arts goals

__ Livestreaming and digital archiving

__ Arts Council funding for media arts in York

__ Local and national appeal of festivals

__ Perceived red tape for bottom up events

__ Cultural Access & Participation

__ Waterfront as a media arts destination

__ Integration of university assets and efforts
__ Commercial sponsorship

__ Conferences and symposia

__ Engagement and proximity to existing UK Creative

Cities

__ Digital infrastructure

__ Extend and enhance existing assets

__ Media support/influence

FOUR THEMES
The long-term cultural vision for the
city and its immediate priorities as a
City of Media Arts follow four themes:

Create
Championing the acts of creation,
learning, and expression, whilst
cultivating the right conditions for each.

Participate
Refreshing the experience we offer and
opportunities to get involved, whoever
or wherever you are in the city.

Transform
Balancing the established cultural
and economic identity of York with the
growing attributes of its digital and
creative industries.

Exchange
The discovery of new audiences, ideas
and opportunities through better
connections to other leading creative
cities.

Photo courtesy of ASFF 2014 and Jim Poyner

CREATE_
__ Facilitate better access to new technologies for
artists and organisations
__ Stimulate new production spaces and
commissions by exploring developer incentives
and Section 106 payments
__ Make SME business support more sector-
relevant and effective
__ Maximise supply chain opportunities for creative
businesses in major national projects
__ Develop a central contact point and incentives
for production in the local area, encouraging
the use of local talent
__ Recognise and reward creative talent with an
annual awards ceremony

PARTICIPATE_
__ Enhance the visibility of media arts in the city as
an interruption and enhancement to everyday
life with projection points and digital facades
__ Embed creative education at the heart of the
learning experience, for all ages
__ Promote the value of diversity of people, ideas,
and cultures
__ Redefine event excellence, exploring the
feasibility of fewer but bigger festivals
combining all creative disciplines
__ Boost community enthusiasm and attendance
through better communication of contemporary
culture
__ Branding the city with a new era of honorary
plaques, celebrating artistic dignitaries and
landmarks

TRANSFORM_
__ Build an iconic Digital & Media Arts Centre
(DMAC), blending creative invention, participation
and industry
__ Develop a new narrative for the city in its
marketing as a place that is inventive, pioneering
and surprising
__ Ensure a strong creative presence in city
development plans, priority business sectors and
regional conversations, such as local enterprise
partnerships
__ Display cultural leadership by proactively seeking
opportunities to champion Yorks creative industries
on the world stage, utilising organisations and
individuals already operating internationally
__ Work with industry bodies to develop compelling
propositions and priorities for each creative
sub-sector
__ Focused targeting to drive inward investment
and political lobbying for large-scale infrastructure
investments

EXCHANGE_
__ Agree single vision and strategic alliance
approach for Yorks creative industries,
leveraging the new centralised agency and
point of contact
__ Be active partners in global networks through
the exchange of research, ideas, artworks and
artist residencies
__ Work in consortia with like-minded organisations
in other Creative Cities to bid for major cultural
projects and developments
__ Work with UKTI and Creative England to provide
support for our creative industries to access new
markets
__ Work with neighbouring cities to support creative
industries capacity building across the region
__ Expand on the Genius! Platform to channel
creative thinking towards new solutions to pan-
city issues in the network
__ Offer support to existing and aspirant cities of
media arts in areas of strength

Consultation with local creative

MAJOR PROJECTS_
York will build an iconic
new Digital & Media Arts
Centre (DMAC) blending
creative invention,
participation and industry

companies has found close proximity

to one another and demand for grow-
on space as the key issues they faced.
In response, Yorks first major
investment will be the creation of a new
Digital & Media Arts Centre (DMAC) in
a prime city centre location. In a skyline
dominated by the Minster for centuries,
the Arts Centre and cluster will act as a
visible feature of the citys creativity in
its landscape.
Yorks Guildhall and Riverside will
provide a world class venue supporting
and nurturing the expansion of
Yorks vibrant creative businesses;
combining events and exhibition space
with state-of-the- art collaboration
and co-working facilities, securing
a sustainable future for this historic

The DMAC is proposed to:

__ Provide a base for a new 21st century digital art
Guild, continuing the long tradition of craft Guilds in
the city.
__ Generate new business and jobs, helping established
businesses to grow
__ Create up to 20,000 sq. ft. of serviced office
accommodation and collaboration and project
spaces for creative, digital and technology
enterprises of all sizes
__ Unlock critical business space required to drive
growth in the creative business sector
__ Improved public access to an iconic historic building
and to an enhanced riverside public realm

building.

__ Engineer encounters between disciplines to further

integrate art, education and recreation

A RIBA (Royal Institute of British

__ Enable the city to provide a ladder of progression

in which businesses in the creative and media
industries can locate, from start-up enterprise, to
high growth business

Architects) Open Idea design

competition has already explored the
opportunities afforded by this unique
setting, attracting 53 entries from
international architectural practices.
The shortlist was put to public
consultation in 2012 with the winning
idea by Rob Loader Architects and
partners.

__ Create an iconic Media Arts destination venue,

contributing to the cultural tourism offer of the City
__ Be animated at night with the potential for external
digital projections, offering a constant reminder of
the citys creativity
__ Further demystify the sector for many by showcasing
emerging digital technologies and practitioners, and
making their activities directly relevant to solving
some of the challenges facing the city today
__ Lead to the net generation of over a hundred
digital and media arts jobs on the assumption that
businesses will on average double in size by locating
in highly suited grow on space

Image courtesy of Inspired Youth

York will work with other

Creative Cities to develop an
international programme
of cultural festivals
showcasing Media Arts

__Connecting Cities events,

The overall aim is to double the value

As a UNESCO City of Media Arts,

of tourism to York over the next ten

York would work with other members

transforming the network of media

years, representing 1bn of economic

of both the Creative Cities and

facades and urban screens into

activity and a further 2000 jobs. The

Connecting Cities networks to

community platforms to create

York Annual Visitor Survey suggests

contribute a calendar of international

dialogue and connect communities

that 17% can be described as purposive

festivals and thought leadership

virtually with the other places

cultural tourists who come to York

conferences for media arts. These

specifically because of its cultural

could include:

offer, whilst, only 4% reference a

specific festival or event. Making our

__An international symposium to

__Connecting Cities Salons, bringing

together experts and enthusiasts to
explore topics over social media.
__Connecting Cities Labs. Preparatory

contemporary cultural sector more

coincide with the 10th anniversary

visible through festivals will rebalance

of Illuminating York festival in

events for artists, curators and

heritage York to include creative York

2015, working with counterparts

citizens to meet and exchange their

and attract new target markets.

from Lyons Fte des Lumires,

practices and develop the curatorial

Bains Numeriques, and Sapporos

vision for future projects.

International Arts Festival.

__Competitions and challenges,

encouraging artistic scenarios
that encourage creative exploration
and provide new ways to connect
with York.

There is also significant opportunity

Closer to home, Liverpool Biennial

to improve the coordination and

is the largest international

coherence of Yorks cultural offer

contemporary art festival in the

amongst local partners. This should

United Kingdom, running for ten

include pooling resources to form

weeks, every two years. Since its

an event of international standing,

launch in 1999, the Liverpool Biennial

as evidenced by existing Creative

has commissioned over 200 new

Cities. For example, the Sapporo

artworks. Nine hundred artists

International Art Festival 2014

participate in each festival and its

(SIAF2014) -the citys first international

fringe. On average, the biennial

art festival -was held as part of its

attracts over 600,000 visitors over

Creative City celebrations over a

10 weeks.

period of 72 days from Saturday, July

19 to Sunday, September 28, under
the stewardship of Guest Director
and globally renowned artist Ryuichi
Sakamoto. The theme of the event
was City and Nature, providing
opportunities for visitors to explore the
concept of nature, cities, economy and
lifestyles and to find out more about
how cities can coexist with nature
based on a reassessment of urban
and environmental issues in Sapporo/
Hokkaido, Japan, and the regions
history in the context of arts.

York Mystery Plays 2012

Image courtesy of Allan Harris

HOW WILL WE MANAGE

DESIGNATION?_

Official Office

It is deemed critical that the connectivity, inclusivity

Recommendation is for the creation

Posts are filled either by direct

and expertise of the bidding vehicle York@Large

of an official office of designation

recruitment by Make It York

is carried over to delivery body. It is also important

under the custodianship of Yorks new

or secondment from partner

the delivery body is in a strong position to facilitate

Destination Management Organisation

organisations.

partnership working for York to fully embrace designation

Make it York. The Office would consist

and thrive as a Creative City.

of a management team of two positions Supported by wider functions of

(one senior, one junior) tasked with

Make it York such as Press Relations,

In the process of researching the optimum mechanism

the management, promotion and

Economic Development and Marketing,

for the strategic direction and day-to-day delivery

development of York UNESCO City of

the structure has the capacity and

of Yorks objectives as a City of Media Arts, we have

Media Arts and the citys objectives for

accountability to do the job.

consulted every existing UK Creative City.

accreditation.
The management team will work with
Make it York to develop an ongoing
business model for the Office.

National Railway Museum, Illuminating York, image courtesy of @roywilliam

Board

Collaboration Group

A board will form and review

A wider Collaboration Group will

the strategic direction of the

channel the strengths and energy

Office. Meeting four times a

of both the public and private

year, its 6-8 members will include

sectors towards these objectives.

broad representation of creative

Less formal in structure, it will

practitioners and organisations,

be representative of the mix of

public, community, education and

practitioners, organisations and

private sectors, tourism bodies,

audiences contained in the bid

property development and media.

and act as an important gateway

It will also blend experience

to community enthusiasm and

with youth following an inclusive

participation.

recruitment campaign.
Business Plan
The Board will be refreshed every

A full business plan, including

three years.

targets, will be developed by

Make It York within three months
of designation.
There are not currently any joining
or membership fees associated
with UNESCO designation and
the Creative Cities network, or the
Connecting Cities network.

Image courtesy of John Saunders

HOW WILL WE
MEASURE SUCCESS?

Implementation Report

Major Projects

UNESCO may request an

The Office will also be expected

Implementation Report from Member

to provide Make It York and

Cities that includes details of initiatives

key stakeholders with regular

Key Objectives

undertaken, outcomes, key learnings

management information on the

The Office will identify key performance indicators and targets for the main

and programme evaluation. Elements

progress of individual major projects.

objectives for designation. It is recommended that the socio-economic impact

of the Implementation Report include

To facilitate this and embed a culture

is tracked by existing city measures for competitiveness, employment, and

but are not limited to:

of learning, the Office is expected

to develop a standard monitoring

investment and community participation in the arts.

_Details of participants: how many?

and evaluation framework for major

Finances

Who? From where?

projects.

The financial performance and accountability of the office will be the direct

_Financial and VIK budget

responsibility of Make It York.

for initiatives

Wherever possible, all of the

_Outcomes as related to

above should be published in the

Annual report

stated objectives

public domain.

Consistent with existing Creative Cities, it is recommended that York UNESCO City

_Key learnings and next steps

of Media Arts Office publish an annual report detailing its ongoing activities and
accomplishments, an operating and financial review, and performance against
key objectives.

Photo courtesy of James Gunn

THE CREATIVE
CITIES NETWORK

Partnerships
The objectives of the Creative Cities are
implemented through partnerships in
the following areas:

Mission Statement

1_ Pilot projects: initiatives that

Yorks mission statement for

demonstrate the importance of

membership to the Creative Cities

creativity as a key to development.

Network:
2_Promoting good practices:
York will be a place where creativity

exchanges on projects and measures of

defines the future understanding and

proven efficiency and effectiveness.

enjoyment of our heritage

3_Studies: research, analysis and
York will be a meeting place of ideas,

assessment of the creative cities

creativity and innovation for the next

experience.

millennia
4_Meetings: consultations, gatherings
York will be a place where media arts

and virtual conventions.

helps define the quality of life for our

future generations

5_Cooperation programmes: North-

South, South-South and North-South-

Membership to the Creative Cities

South initiatives to support member

Network will be a catalyst for new

cities in need of assistance.

experiences, connections and initiatives

reaching our entire city population

6_Training and capacity building:

and contributing to international

Exchange of interns, trainees

understanding of the power of media

and educational modules.

arts to improve the lives and wellbeing

of our citizens.

7_Policy measures: initiatives linked to

local and/or national
development plans.

Obligations

demonstrate the Networks

Beyond the opportunities for

international and multidisciplinary

collaboration and cooperation with

character incorporating cross-cutting

other member cities, York is required

themes related to global concerns

to attend annual network meetings

such as creative governance,

with the representatives of member

creative economy and sustainable

cities. The main objective of these

development. The conferences

meetings are to:

also serve as platforms fostering

knowledge sharing and exchange of

_exchange updated information of

good practices as well as promoting

each citys recent activities;

partnership opportunities.

_discuss the networks

Members are also expected to

communication strategy and

partake in sub-network initiatives

operations;

and different forms of collaborative

platforms to strengthen the common

_agree upon important matters

basis for cooperation.

related to future developments of the

Network.

A new digital platform was recently

launched to facilitate instantaneous

Physical meetings have been held

communications among the Network.

in Paris 2008 (UNESCO HQ), Santa

Fe 2008, Lyon 2009, Shenzhen 2010,

www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/

Seoul 2011, Montral 2012,

themes/creativity/creative-cities-

Bologna 2013, Chengdu 2014.

network

In addition, international Conferences

are held in association with the
Creative Cities Network. Organised
as major discussion forums with
a wide range of inter-sectoral
stakeholders, the conferences

CONNECTING
CITIES
In October 2014, York was accepted

Obligations

_create a programme for a

into the growing media arts network

Membership of the Connecting Cities

Connecting Cities Conference

Aarhus Berlin Brussels

Connecting Cities, with Illuminating

network comes with a commitment to:

_organise an Urban Media Kitchen or

Dessau Frankfurt Helsinki

Connecting Cities Salon to build local

Istanbul Linz Liverpool

_share the vision of Connecting Cities

network, audience and PR

London Madrid

Connecting Cities is an exciting global

_bring in your infrastructure as part of

_invite CC Initiator for key note speech*

Marseille Melbourne

network of digital facades and artists,

a worldwide networked infrastructure

using media arts to explore urban

of urban screens, media facades and

As active members of the network, York

Saarbrcken Sao Paulo

issues and open up dialogue on a local

digital projections

is expected to comply with at least one

Sapporo Sydney Vienna

and translocal level. Supported by the

_become part of the Connecting Cities

of the activities listed above and which

Wuhan York Zagreb

Culture Programme of the European

website and social media platforms

is marked with an asterisk(*). As a new

Zaragoza

Union, the network also pursues

use the Connecting Cities logo and

partner, York has to implement the

an artistic research and exchange

PR tools

activity(ies) within two years after the

programme that combines workshops

_share your urban media activities in

joining date of October 2014.

and conferences with the production

the Connecting Cities newsletter

of interactive artworks, which go on

_inform regularly the CC Initiator

Artistic Theme

display across member cities.

about your networking activities with

The curatorial theme for 2015 is

CC Partners and provide information

InVISIBLE and VISIBLE Cities. Curating

material for the documentation

and funding 10-15 projects across the

York as associated partner.

Through the network, York is linked

to partners in other leading creative

Montreal New York Riga

year, Connecting Cities are calling

cities such as Berlin, Sao Paulo, Linz,

Participating in Connecting Cities

artistic scenarios to visualise the data

Istanbul, Brussels, Madrid, Vienna,

activities involves a commitment to:

that underpins our everyday lives. York

is encouraged to create its own local

Montreal, Melbourne, and Helsinki.

_organise a Connecting Cities Event

programmes within the theme, tailored

_present Connecting Cities Projects*

to our needs and circumstances.

_bring in urban media projects for the

Connecting Cities Network
_host a Connecting Cities Lab*

connectingcities.net

Dancing in the Rain by Pfadfinderei + The Constitute, Connected Cultures

Sao Paulo 2013. Photo courtesy of Public Art Lab

BRANDING

It is recommended that the Media City York

branding for the bid campaign is replaced with
official accreditation assets.

Official logo

The network has provided access to

Membership in the Creative Cities

communication materials and tools

Network grants, under certain

including, but not limited to, logo,

circumstances, the right to use the

concept, artists description, business

official logo, composed of both

cards, press materials, templates,

UNESCOs graphic logo (the temple)

videos, etc.

and the citys own Creative City identity

graphic. The regulations for the use of

The Connecting Cities logo must be

this logo are very strict.

used on the promotional material of any

network activity.

Communication materials featuring

the UNESCO Creative City logos that

Brand Guidelines

are produced by events and project

To build and maintain the integrity of

organisers must include a disclaimer

the York City of Media Arts brand, clear

such as: [name of the organiser] is

guidelines will be developed. They

responsible for the choice and the

will be designed for use by the official

presentation of the facts and opinions in

Office primarily and external parties on

this [name of the document], which are

receiving permission.

not necessarily those of UNESCO and do

not commit the Organisation.
The UNESCO Creative City logos must
not be used for commercial purposes.
The sale of goods or services bearing
the UNESCO Creative Cities name and
logo for profits is considered to be
commercial, and thus is not allowed.
An electronic file of the logo will be sent
to the designated city by UNESCO.
Connecting Cities

KEY
STAKEHOLDERS_

_York@Large
_Yorks creative community
_Creative Cities Network
_Connecting Cities network
_The UK National Commission for UNESCO
_Key institutions in the regions public and private arena
_National professional bodies for the creative industries

Photo courtesy of ASFF 2014 and Jim Poyner

cityofmediaarts.com

Cover Photo Credit

Matt Beard
Cirque du Soleil

Design by
LazenbyBrown
York