MONTREAL, March 19, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - It's begun! For its 2nd edition, Digital Spring 2015 offers a bouquet of 150 events. Some of them spin off into a wide range of activities, the better to present the diversity of Montréal creativity and major international trends. Its program will be unveiled this evening at the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, in the presence of more than 300 people.
With this second edition, Digital Spring takes a phenomenal leap, almost doubling the scope of its 2014 program, which included 77 events.
Montréal is replete with renowned artists in the digital field, as well as production and broadcasting bodies and companies that have an international reputation. A total of 115 organizations are working together to present this second edition. This is a movement of unprecedented scope.
Montréal is the North American digital arts capital. It ranks third in the world for video game production and is the fourth leading hub of the visual effects industry. régionale des élus (CRÉ) de Montréal (regional conference of elected officers).
"There is a growing awareness of Montréal's position as a global centre of excellence in digital creativity. We sense increasing public enthusiasm for Montréal's bubbling digital industry, which is generating more and more original and spectacular works at high speed," declares Steve Foster, Second Vice-President of the Conférence régionale des élus (CRÉ) de Montréal (Regional conference of elected officers).
"In my view, digital art is an established, complete art that is taking on increasing importance in the practices of today's artists and at the MAC," says John Zeppetelli, Director and Chief Curator at the Musée d'art contemporain. "As both the medium and the message, this art form expresses current concerns, questions and hopes in a powerful, contemporary language. The MAC is proud to participate in this edition of Montréal's Digital Spring by welcoming, for the second year in a row, Mutek and Elektra, two of the city's leading digital ambassadors."
From March 21 to June 21, DS will showcase interactive spaces, visual and sound performances, immersive experiences, 3D production, cutting-edge electronic music, installations, vernissages, conferences, art and industry networking activities, and world-class events dedicated both to digital neophytes and enthusiasts.
From the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, to Piknic Électronik, as well as MUTEK, the Elektra 16 International Digital Arts Festival, and IX 2015, the International Symposium on Immersion and Experience, Digital Spring promises to be rich in discoveries and pleasures!
The video game segment of Digital Spring will see a special expansion in 2015. It will be possible to participate in "playtests" with creators, thanks to Espace ludique (Playspace). In addition, a large-scale Game Jam will mobilize 7 Montréal schools and universities. Coordinated by Le Mondial des Jeux Loto‑Québec, it will enable fans and experienced artisans to participate in small multidisciplinary teams, in friendly competitions aimed at lightning production of a playable video game prototype.
Under the Québec Digital Culture Plan, Culture pour tous initiates the Lab culturel, which seeks to support the development of innovative digital cultural projects or services. The media arts community thus will be called on to propose creative ideas to make culture accessible to the public.
Several participating organizations will also splendidly mark the International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.
This year, Digital Spring will be the flagship event of Tourisme Montréal's "Digital Montréal" theme campaign. This collaboration will spread digital creativity to tourists through a content advertising and marketing campaign.
The DS program, driven by La Vitrine, is accessible on printempsnumerique.info, LaVitrine.com and other partner platforms. New this year, the Digital Spring mobile app gives access to the program while allowing geolocation of events.
"We are very excited about this turn of events. For the general public, it's a privileged opportunity to meet this entire efferverscent community and introduce themselves to its members' works, and those of the many international creative talents who will visit us on this occasion," Mr. Foster points out.
This program, which includes a great many free activities, is the result of the work of more than a hundred organizations, supported by the Conférence régionale des élus (CRÉ) de Montréal (regional conference of elected officers) and many institutional and media partners, particularly Tourisme Montréal, the Consent des arts de Montréal, and La Vitrine. Digital Spring is produced in association with the newspaper Métro.
About Digital Spring
Digital Spring is an initiative of the Conférence régionale des élus (CRÉ) de Montréal (regional conference of elected officers) with 115 organizations coming from creative fields or interested in the digital arts. The second edition is being held from mid-March to mid-June 2015. Connecting science, industry and art, Digital Spring showcases Montréal's bubbling digital creativity.
Please click here for the press kit: http://printempsnumerique.info/instruments-de-communication-du-printemps-numerique/
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About CRÉ Montréal
CRÉ de Montréal (regional conference of elected officers) brings together political and socioeconomic leaders from the Island of Montréal. Its mandate is to encourage the development of its territory via a coordinated approach.
SOURCE CONFERENCE REGIONALE DES ELUS (CRE) DE MONTREAL
Image with caption: "Montreal Digital Spring (CNW Group/CONFERENCE REGIONALE DES ELUS (CRE) DE MONTREAL)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150319_C3938_PHOTO_EN_13400.jpg
Mehdi Benboubakeur, CRÉ de Montréal, Tel.: 514-842-2400, extension 2220, Cell. : 514-975-9835
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