IN another example of the transforming business scene in Northern Ireland, a new audio visual arts festival (AVA) and conference is poised to take over the Titanic Quarter from early morning on Saturday into the wee small hours.
The AVA Festival will welcome top talent in electronic music, film and digital visual art, ranging from home-grown global duo Bicep to LA hip-hop producer DJ and film score wizard DJ Nu-Mark AKA Uncle Nu.
Also among the hit list on stage will be the Chemical Brothers, AV director Adam Smith (also director of Skins, Dr Who and The Streets music videos), Berlin-based music software and hardware market leaders, Abletone, and underground music broadcaster Boiler Room which will be making its Northern Ireland debut at the all-day event.
The aim is to provide an opportunity for emerging and established artists, labels, designers, music video film-makers, animators and promoters - as well as some unnamed "special guests" - to network on a business level at the free day-time conference which is the overture to the ticketed event in the evening.
Organiser Sarah McBriar of Belfast-based Up Productions said emerging talent from Northern Ireland's electronic music and visual arts scene was the catalyst for getting things up and running.
"I had this idea over a year ago as I had worked on a number of festivals outside Northern Ireland and felt the time was right for one on our own doorstep, as there are amazing gigs running nearly every weekend in Ireland," she said.
"There is a rapidly growing niche in electronic music and visual arts and many Northern Ireland artists have now become global names. It took some time to get all the artists on board but I have a passion for live music and felt it was time to celebrate who we are in a Northern Ireland setting."
Sarah, who studied creative production in London and has worked on several major festivals, including Glastonbury and Manchester International Festival, said visual arts, including the specialised field of projection mapping, was a rapidly growing sector in the north.
"Visual arts in Northern Ireland is a relatively new sector but the expertise is really impressive," she said.
"But, as well as the serious, business element, I want the Titanic event to be fun and exciting.
"There is a street food market and vinyl record fair on site as well as a number of workshops. It is a chance to show off Northern Ireland's unique energy and character."
The AVA Festival runs from 11am until late. To register or purchase tickets, visit www.avafestival.com/conference
