Hello Culture: Telling Tales is a one-day conference that, through a thought-provoking programme of keynote speeches and panel discussions, will explore how artists can retell stories in multiple narrative formats, platforms and in a myriad of ways.

Led by programme curators, Lara Ratnaraja and Chris Brown and hosted by Helga Henry, the event welcomes experts from across the arts, cultural and digital sectors to discuss and debate the issues surrounding the creation and telling of stories —. It will explore experimentation in art, theatre, dance and heritage through digital technology, providing artists and arts organisations access to new thinking, ideas, forms of practice and artistic experimentation and expression.

The programme includes keynotes from Alison Norrington, CEO and founder of Storycentral and Nick Robertson, content producer at the BBC. Panels on the day will discuss and debate inclusion and collaboration in the creation and telling of stories, the platforms used to reach audiences and the emotions that content can trigger.

“The Culture is Digital June 2019 Progress Report noted that there are 48 million internet users in the UK, making digital experiences part of daily life,” explained Lara Ratnaraja, programme curator at Hello Culture. “With the average Briton spending 24 hours a week online, 62 per cent of this time is spent on a smartphone. The DCMS Taking Part survey found that 90 per of adults in 2018 were recent internet users with 30.6 per cent of adults having digitally participated in culture.

“The myriad forms of digital activity are the new normal for audiences, be that streaming, podcasting, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) or artificial intelligence (AI) and increasingly that experience will be a layered integrated landscape of digital platforms and channels.

“Hello Culture will investigate how artists working in new ways with technology are increasing representation and visibility for marginalised communities, and in doing so are creating work that reflects the audiences around them

“Having ran the event successfully in Birmingham for almost ten years, we’re excited to be partnering again with the BBC’s Digital Cities week to take Hello Culture on the road to Bristol.”

Since it’s inception in 2011, Hello Culture has continued to bring together artists, cultural organisations, academics and creatives to discuss themes around the intersection of culture and digital technology at its annual symposium. The 2020 event, which will be held at Watershed, the heart of digital creativity in Bristol, on Tuesday 28 January.

Hello Culture: Telling Tales is supported by Arts Council England.

Attending Hello Culture: Telling Takes is free of charge, however delegates must register on Eventbrite to secure their space. For more information on the event, programme and keynote speakers, please visit www.helloculture.co.uk.