Publish! A Day of Innovation on the Future of the Book

8th December, The Watershed, Bristol. 10am-5.30pm

Lightning Talks, Show and Tells, and Workshops on the future of publishing

On Thursday 8 December the Watershed in Bristol will be opening its doors for Publish! A Day of Innovation on the Future of the Book. Anyone interested in innovation and the future of publishing should take part in a jam-packed day of seminars, workshops and networking.

Innovation is key to surviving and prospering in business and never more so than in troubled economic times. Can innovation invigorate the book and the publishing industries that are currently undergoing an unprecedented transformation?

Delegates can find out how to be more innovative, understand how publishers (and new players) are making money from digital, meet innovators working on the future of the book and network with potential partners who can help develop successful digital products. People who should attend include book, magazines and newspaper publishers; journalists; digital media creators; writers, illustrators, photographers, and film-makers.

The Day of Innovation is part of the Future of Publishing Programme which kicked off in May 2011 with the first UK Book Hackday, and the launch of BookHackers.com, The Future of Publishing Programme is led by Cyprus Well and also includes a series of workshops around the South West. The wider programme, in partnership with iNet, Cyprus Well and NESTA , along with support from South West based Universities, will provide a long-term support network for anyone interested to engage with the faced-paced world of publishing, helping publishers and digital agencies work together on new business models and ideas.

The programme culminates in the day of innovation in Bristol where key thinkers and doers will give thought-provoking Lightning Talks and present recent Show and Tells, giving insights into what has and hasn’t worked in innovation and business growth. Raising sights further, leading innovators will showcase inspiring projects. And debates will engage with the challenges and opportunities facing publishers now and set the scene for the future.

In rapid workshops experts will also teach attendees about creating digital content, collaborating with partners and digital agencies, working with designers and developers, and developing new business models and revenue streams.

To wrap up the day a panel of industry luminaries will discuss how we can innovate better and more cost-effectively, using methods including open innovation, rapid development and lean models.

The Future of Publishing programme is supported by Cyprus Well and the Creative Industries iNet and powered by NESTA. The Creative Industries iNET is part of the Government’s Solutions for Business portfolio, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and led by South West Screen.

Ensuring that everyone can attend, there various ticket prices are offered. Individuals and small businesses booking before 24 November can buy tickets for just £50, and £75 thereafter. Larger organisations can purchase at £75 before, and £100 thereafter.

Tickets can be booked at www.mediafutures.org.uk/2011/

The full programme, including presenters, will be announced soon.

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Note to Editors

1. Day of Innovation is produced in partnership with Cyprus Well, powered by NESTA, and supported by the Creative Industries iNet, which is part of the Government’s Solutions for Business portfolio, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and led by South West Screen. .

2.. Cyprus Well is the literature development agency for the South West. www.cypruswell.org. Working with a range of partners Cyprus Well provides support to the literature sector ensuring that writers and publishers can keep ahead of the rapid changes affecting their industry. For more information about the Future of Publishing Programme and the workshops and South West Publishing support please contact Tracey Guiry, CEO, Cyprus Well at tguiry@cypruswell.org

3. Media Futures facilitates knowledge sharing and debate around publishing, media and innovation. www.mediafutures.org.uk

4. Creative Industries iNet
The Creative Industries iNet (Innovation Network) is a £3.2 million programme of support designed to help the South West’s creative businesses thrive and advance the area’s growing reputation as a global creative centre of excellence. Working with emerging and established companies, the iNet is developing bold products and business models, exploring new opportunities and ideas, and connecting creatives to a community of innovators across the region and around the world. The iNet is part of Solutions for Business, funded by the European Regional Development Fund and led by South West Screen. www.creativeindustriesi.net

Networking for Innovation (iNets) is a product within the government-funded Solutions for Business portfolio of business support. An iNet is a proven way of helping businesses to introduce new techniques and products, and find new markets, by giving them access to specialist information and research, and sharing knowledge and expertise. The five iNets representing key business sectors in the South West are Aerospace and Advanced Engineering, BioMedical, Creative Industries, Environmental and Microelectronics. iNets South West are supported by £13 million from the South West RDA, the European Regional Development Fund and partner investments. www.inets-sw.co.uk

Solutions for Business is a suite of targeted, publicly-funded products and services offering solutions to real business needs and tackling market failure. It includes: starting up, understanding finance, developing people, environment and efficiency, exploiting ideas, international sales and marketing and growing your business. By targeting public money at real business needs, it helps create sustainable success.

The European Regional Development Fund helps stimulate economic development and regeneration in the least prosperous regions of the EU. Funding is targeted to meet three objectives set down by the European Commission: Convergence, Regional Competitiveness and European Territorial Co-operation.

South West Screen is the development agency for film, television and digital media in the South West of England, with a mission to make the region an international centre of excellence for the creative and media industries. Work includes investing in talent, reaching audiences, developing skills, promoting the region, growing businesses, market intelligence and fostering innovation. www.swscreen.co.uk

For more information visit http://www.mediafutures.org.uk/2011/