BEYOND Studio

We're getting ready for the September edition of Creative Economy Digest, for those working at the intersection of creativity, technology and business.

📣 Send us your news, events, research, jobs, funding and development opportunities before the end of August!

t.ly/VGV6w

SGN Partners with Indonesian Embassy for ‘Scotnesia’ Games Ecosystem Exchange The Scottish Games Network is delighted to announce the Scotnesia Game Exchange 2025, a special online event designed to build bridges between the Scottish and Indonesian games ecosystems. The event will take place this Thursday, 7th August 2025, from 10:30 - 14:00 BST. This is a valuable and timely opportunity for Scottish developers, studios, and educators to connect with one of the world's most exciting and rapidly growing emerging markets.

The Scotnesia Game Exchange: a new online event bringing together the videogames ecosystems in Scotland and Indonesia takes place on Aug 7th.

DARCI Conference – Enhancing Audio Description We are delighted to announce that in September 2025 we will be hosting the Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries (DARCI) at the University of York (UK).

Next month we are hosting the #DARCI Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries. There are options to attend in person (York) or online. We've updated our programme and have uploaded the book of abstracts enhancingaudiodescription.com/darci-confer...

We're hiring a Comms and Events Officer - Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre Creative PEC, working in partnership with Newcastle University and the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) is recruiting for a Communications and Events Officer Contract Type:  Fixed Term Working Pattern:  Fu...

If you'd like to help us support the UK's creative industries, we're currently hiring a London-based Comms and Events Officer. Please do apply if it matches your interests and experience. Closing date is 7 September.

Full details here: pec.ac.uk/job_entries/...

What sessions do you want to see at #SXSW 2026? Browse proposals and cast your votes to help shape who will take the Conference stage.

Learn more: ow.ly/3UE850WA9Na

Have you joined the BEYOND mailing list yet?

Yesterday we shared our latest BEYOND newsletter, full of news and stories to whet the appetite for BEYOND 2025!

With our first speaker announcements coming soon, now is a great time to sign up!

Find a link in our bio or go to: t.ly/pNnSS

Why come to BEYOND Conference in November? BEYOND brings together a unique gathering of innovators, business leaders, creatives, researchers, policy makers, journalists and funders, all focused on Research and Development across the Creative Industries. - Connect with future collaborators, researchers and funders - Experience pioneering R&D projects - Engage with the global conversation on innovation, creativity, and opportunity - Explore the relationship between creative research and business innovation. Join us in MediaCity Salford, on 24-26 November - Super Early Bird tickets available now! Why Come to BEYOND?

Why come to BEYOND Conference?

- Connect with collaborators, researchers, funders
- Experience pioneering R&D projects
- Engage with the global conversation on innovation, creativity, opportunity.
- Explore the relationship between creative research and business innovation.

MediaCity, 24-26 Nov!

We’re hiring! 📣 We’re on the search for three new roles to join the BOM team. Find out more below.

Technician (full-time) bit.ly/4mqeZ3W
Finance & Operations Assistant (part-time) bit.ly/4ok05xX
Head of Programme (Part-time) bit.ly/3IWOOU1

XR Stories Masterclass: Capturing 3D Models Learn different ways of scanning real-world objects and environments to create a 3D digital model.

Join us in the XR Stories immersive R&D lab on 3 Sept 2025 for a masterclass on capturing 3D models. The session will provide an introduction to two different modes of 3D scanning – photogrammetry and Gaussian Splatting. Find out more and book your place 👉 www.eventbrite.com/e/1548872281...

Emerging producers, we've extended the deadline for our In Development: Producer Lab with @filmhubmidlands — you now have until this Wednesday at noon to apply! If you’ve been thinking about it, now’s the time!! https://bit.ly/fhn-idpl 🎬

Immersive Arts Fund application support - Bradford Producing Hub Registration closes Sunday 17 August 2025 at 11 PM Are you planning to apply to the Immersive Arts Fund? We’re providing application support to Bradford artists to develop their application to Immersi...

📢 Bradford artists!

We're thrilled to be providing application support for artists and collectives from the Bradford district to apply to the @immersiveartsuk.bsky.social Fund!

🎟️ Online info session: Monday 11 August at 12.30 PM
📬 Apply by: Monday 17 August

bdproducinghub.co.uk/funding-oppo...

BEYOND Studio is excited to announce Emerging Innovators 2025, a new programme designed to recognise and celebrate early-career talent within the UK’s creative research community.

Introducing our first three Emerging Innovators below..

Read more on LinkedIn:
t.ly/utxKP

"Why is BEYOND so important? Because creative collaboration is what we need.."

Our 2024 (and 2025!) host Nihal Arthanayake, reflects on his experiences at last year's BEYOND, from the Fringe that 'fizzed with energy', to how MediaCity is a model of what can be achieved with vision and imagination.

Revisiting the Growth Reimagined conference in Kotor, with Gillian Easson, Co-Founding Director of Creative Dundee.

Gillian’s session explored how creative communities help shape better policy.

Watch now: m.youtube.com/watch?v=lo6-...

Unsure which funding strand to apply for?

Our funding quiz will help identify which funding strand you may be eligible for.

Take our quiz: immersivearts.uk/resources/quiz

More BEYOND announcements coming soon..

📝 Sign up to BEYOND and be first to hear about speakers, events, competitions and more!

🎟️ Super Early Bird tickets and Concessions now available - check the links in our profile for more info.

#BEYONDconf #conferences #creativeindustries

LAST CALL! Undershed: Call for Immersive Artwork @wshed.bsky.social‬: apply to an exhibition themed around the question: "What does home mean to you?"

🗓️ Deadline: July 20

https://www.watershed.co.uk/jobs-opportunities/2025/07/undershed-call-immersive-artwork

What Is Our Legacy? A Call For Scottish Games Studios To Help Preserve Our Digital Heritage How many videogames have been made In Scotland? Is it hundreds, or thousands? Do you remember some of the incredible work from long-gone studios like Red Lemon, Dynamo Games, Space Budgie, Lucky Frame or Outerlight? FUN FACT: Did you know that Denki is not only the oldest games studio in Scotland, but one of the most prolific, developing over 100…

Made In Scotland is a research programme from the Scottish Council On Archives - and they would LOVE to hear from Scottish GAMES businesses.

How can long-term collaboration and locally driven strategy help build a thriving creative economy? Elene Toidze, Co-Founder and Director of Creative Clusters Alliance explored Georgia’s evolving creative economy - tracing its progression from initial mapping and analysis to the development of a national strategy and targeted action. The session she lead during the two-day conference Growth Reimagined at CIM Forum highlighted how local leadership, enriched through international exchange and shared learning, has contributed to shaping a more resilient and dynamic cultural and creative sector. Hear more about what Elene Toidze had to say at the conference ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzWsQ3PoIQw&t=1547s Elene Toidze, Director of Creative Clusters Alliance (Georgia), #GrowthReimagined interview

Continuing with the @britishcouncil.bsky.social's speaker interviews from Growth Reimagined in Kotor...

Elene Toidze, Co-Founder and Director of Creative Clusters Alliance (Georgia) explores how long-term collaboration and locally driven strategy can help build a thriving creative economy.

Watch

Delighted to see FactorTech has launched a new £100m games finance initiative.

gamerepublic.net/news/factort...

#gamedev

How is generative AI reshaping creative processes and challenging the role of the creator? Guy Gadney, Founder and CEO of Charistmatic.ai (UK) lead a session on this topic during the two-day conference Growth Reimagined at CIM Forum. It explored where human imagination meets machine intelligence, igniting awe, raising critical questions, and disrupting traditional creative practices. This fast-paced session dove into the inspiration, challenges, and evolving future of creativity in the age of #AI. Watch the full session here▶️https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzWsQ3PoIQw&t=24121s Guy Gadney, Founder and CEO of Charistmatic.ai (UK), #GrowthReimagined interview

Watch Guy Gadney, Founder and CEO of Charismatic.ai, talking about how generative AI is reshaping creative processes and challenging the role of the creator. Guy lead a session on this topic during Growth Reimagined at CIM Forum in Kotor back in May.

Watch now:
t.ly/dX2jg

Full session:
t.ly/dMHxX

We’re excited to announce Key Cities Innovation Network (KCIN) as Event Partner for BEYOND 2025. We will team up with i-PLACE—KCIN’s new policy-focused gathering for place-based innovation, to host joint events that spotlight the role of innovation ecosystems in shaping policy and local development.

Amazon launches £30,000 creative grants for underserved UK communities Through its new Regional Creatives Fund, Amazon will help charities create pathways into creative careers.

Amazon is supporting charities which develop creative careers with the launch of its Regional Creatives Fund.

🌠 It offers grants of up to £30,000 to charities that help underserved communities pursue their creative ambitions.

XR Labs Fund - XR Network+ R&D grants to develop extended reality (XR) prototypes, with a particular focus on virtual production technologies and convergent media.

📣 Applications are OPEN for our XR Network+ R&D funding opportunity - the XR Labs Fund! Researchers and technicians at UK universities can apply for up to £25k to develop XR prototypes using university facilities. Find out more & apply by 11 Sept 2025: xrnetworkplus.xrstories.co.uk/grant/xr-lab...

Home - Arts & Minds Campaign Ensuring all children have opportunities to study creative subjects throughout their education.

Now is a key moment to restore the status of arts and creative education in schools. Please add your voice by signing the open letter over at theartsandmindscampaign.org.uk, led by our friends at the
@neunion.bsky.social ✍️

Creative Lives is seeking a freelance Community Producer to deliver a six-month programme of creative development and radio broadcast content in Slough as part of our Creative Lives On Air collaboration with @bbcberkshire.bsky.social. www.creative-lives.org/community-pr...

The deadline for BFI NETWORK@LFF 2025 approaches! Emerging UK writers, directors, and producers - don't miss this opportunity to connect with industry professionals and be part of BFI London Film Festival like never before. Apply by Friday 18 July: http://rb.gy/0439nd 📝

We’re really pleased to announce that Nihal Arthanayake will return to host BEYOND 2025 at MediaCity in November.

Nihal is an acclaimed broadcaster, TV presenter, and journalist, known for his extensive work on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 5 Live.

#BEYONDconf

Close-up of a woman in a yellow shirt typing on a laptop, situated at a vibrant workspace with paperwork around.

We’re co-developing a Good Practice Exchange (GPEx) for research and innovation culture with the community – and we want your input!

Have your say in our survey👉
www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/GPExConsul...

⏰Closes 10 August 2025

Need a Friday lunchtime read?
The July edition of Creative Economy Digest is out now! t.ly/J9djk