Reflecting on a year of innovation: An update on Media Cymru 2023
The first delivery year for the Media Cymru team here at PDR has been a great success. We’ve supported 18 Seed funded projects and helped 30 creatives use design to explore and develop new ideas. We've built deep relationships with members of the creative community, reflected and further developed our support, and been enthusiastic supporters of the wide range of projects being delivered. Read on for project’s progress so far as well as a glimpse of what lies ahead.
Innovation for Creatives, Ideas Lab and Seed Sessions
The year kicked off with a focus on Innovation for Creatives and Ideas Lab – two workshops designed to bring together people who were new to research and development (R&D) or the creative industries and, in the case of Ideas Lab, might have an idea that could apply to the Creative Industries.
We provided support to workshop participants on using the necessary tools and language to make new connections and develop confidence. We then helped them apply this to a project together in order to solidify their knowledge so that they can apply to their applications for Seed.
These 18 Seed projects were awarded £10k by Media Cymru to undertake a feasibility study. PDR supported each of these projects through a series of one-to-one sessions that took them through understanding their challenges, the needs of their users and their next development steps.
Recently, Media Cymru and PDR had a show-and-tell event where five of the seed projects shared their R&D journeys. This served as a great opportunity for our research to be shared within the wider Media Cymru cohort. It also highlighted the enthusiasm and ambition projects have for the future.
Beyond project-specific interventions, we recognise the importance of building and sustaining a community of creative industry practitioners. Safia explains, “With a focus on supporting individual creatives in their R&D journey, we organised PDR & CO:RE, a series of thematic events aimed at knowledge sharing and social learning. Our goal is to create a space that nurtures creative dialogues and new collaborations.”
Highlights and successes
Several highlights and successes have marked the year for the team and participants alike:
Growth and success for the team
These include the successful delivery of innovative workshops, the growth and effectiveness of our team, and the recognition received by our team members for their commitment to learning the Welsh language. We have been keen to share our learning with the world, publishing research articles on design approaches to innovation and creative communities of practice.
Benefits for participants
Participants in Media Cymru have experienced a range of benefits, from building confidence and making valuable connections to gaining a new mindset about R&D and innovation. Our interventions have equipped them with tools to articulate complex ideas visually, enhancing their ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
Positive themes and trends
Projects within Media Cymru have addressed community needs and social impact as well as their economic goals. Many of the projects have focussed on sustainability, using technology to improve work processes, and elevating services and spaces for their communities.
Projects to watch
Among the projects we're excited about are:
- 4Pi Productions, who are developing portable immersive environment technology,
- Ange McMillan, who is exploring VR, AR, and gaming as a tool for young people with anxiety,
- Esports Wales, who are growing the Welsh Esports scene through developing a talent pipeline around live production, and,
- Dark Arts, who are catalysing historical music catalogues using technology.
Keep an eye out for updates on new projects that will be revealed after the Development funding announcements.
Aims and wishes for the future
In the immediate future, we are looking forward to kicking off Development Fund 2023 support. We are excited to see who joins us for Innovation for Creatives and Ideas Lab while we expand our reach to North Wales. Plus, we’re increasing the number of projects supported through Seed and Development 2024 and strategic initiatives like Scale-up funding and the Greening the Screen with Ffilm Cymru. These add layers of complexity and excitement to our upcoming year.
As we wrap up this year of intensive delivery, we feel energised and ready for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. We're proud of the progress of Media Cymru and look forward to another year of collaborations. Stay tuned for more updates and developments!
Next Steps
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