pervasive media studio

SXSW Interactive Festival 2009

In March 2009, a group of residents from the Pervasive Media Studio headed over to Austin, Texas to attend SXSW Interactive festival 2009. The Festival celebrates the creativity and passion behind the coolest new media technologies. In addition to panel sessions that covered everything from web design to bootstrapping to social networks, attendees made new business connections at the three-day Trade Show & Exhibition.

Funded by Arts Council England and managed by Studio Directer Clare Reddington, The Umbrella Group featured 12 of the UK’s most brilliant digital artists and producers, including studio residents Duncan Speakman and Simon Evans. Whilst out at the Festival The Umbrella Group, who were easily spotted as they carried umbrellas throughout the duration of the festival, ran The Hat Game designed by Simon Games. Featuring a gps tracked bowler hat, festival attendees were be able to make contact with The Umbrella Group, track the hat online and claim the hat, wearing it for as long as they could until it was claimed by someone else. 

The South West delegation, which included Mobile Pie and Simon Johnson, was funded by South West Screen and South West Regional Development Agency with additional support from UKTI. They were joined by Hazel Grian and representatives from Bristol Media, CX Partners, OmniTI, Team Rubber and Watershed.

Visit their blogs at: http://www.ished.net/projects/sxsw