SIGN, in partnership with XR Stories and funded by an AHRC Public Engagement grant, hosted a skills and training conference to support the future development of the screen industries in Yorkshire and the Humber.
The Future is Northern: Skills and Training Conference was held at The Studio, in Leeds, on 27 March 2023. Seventy delegates attended a range of talks, panel sessions and workshops to find out more about the future of the screen industries, and opportunities for people coming into the sector as well as problems faced, such as how to increase diversity and inclusive working practices. Speakers from various backgrounds including academia, industry and education presented innovative initiatives and research, including Film Hub North’s Scratch Me project, the Good Trouble Labs, and Interactive Broadcast Futures.
Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions, engage in lively discussions and network throughout the day. The main talks were also live streamed to an online audience of over 200 people, and a recording of the conference’s highlights is available to watch back for free below.
Duncan Petrie, Director of SIGN, said, ‘The Future is Northern conference was a fantastic showcase of the brilliant work education providers, researchers and industry professionals are doing to tackle skills and training problems in Yorkshire and the Humber’s screen industries. It was particularly exciting to hear from those who had received funding from SIGN and XR Stories and how our support has helped address problems and challenge systemic practices in TV, games and film.’
Watch highlights and talks from The Future is Northern conference online