Festival at Oxford Brookes University celebrates the importance and impact of creative industries

Thought-provoking music, talks, performances and much more are part of Oxford Brookes University’s Creative Industries Festival which takes place next month.

Between 9 and 16 May, more than 50 artists, performers, researchers and professionals will give 20 talks, workshops and performances around the theme of joyful resistance, focusing on topics including the climate crisis, all-embracing creativity, social justice and spaces for resistance. 

The event is organised by the University’s Creative industries research and innovation network (CIRIN), which brings together diverse disciplines including advertising, architecture, arts, design, film, publishing, software, games and media.

Professor Daniela Treveri Gennari, CIRIN Network Chair, Professor of Film Studies and the Research Lead for Oxford Brookes University’s School of Arts said: “I’m excited about this festival which includes everything from how we encourage children into the creative industries through to how theatre can challenge ageism and age-induced shame.

“The festival will showcase the work of CIRIN over the last three years, and highlight the vital economic and social impact of the creative industries to our society.”

The festival starts on Tuesday 9 May with a celebration to mark the third anniversary of the creation of CIRIN. Special guests will be Trevor MacFarlane, Director of Culture Commons, and Fran Sanderson, Director of Arts Programmes and Investments for NESTA. 

The varied programme continues with a session exploring creative solutions for urban environments with industry architects and the Brookes Sustainable and Resilient Futures Network.

Musical performances and artist discussions on the theme of Flamboyant Nature take place on Thursday 11 May. Queer artist PriestX, singer/songwriter/producer NAALA and DJ, performer and educator Thempress. 

The musical theme continues on Tuesday 16 May when Blues experts Michael Roach and Christian O’Connell lead a conversation on Paul Oliver’s trip to the US in 1960. Paul Oliver was a Blues scholar whose work uncovered the origins and development of the music, and the hidden lives of African Americans during segregation.

For a full programme of events and details on how to book visit the festival page.