XpoNorth gears up for creative industries’ coming-of-age event

A FREE training event for people aspiring to careers in television, film, music, design, writing, games development or social media is to be held in Inverness.

The creative industries festival XpoNorth offers a chance for 17 trainees to play a starring role with XpoNorth Live!, the Inverness-based festival’s new live online television station.

XpoNorth is a unique happening in the Scottish creative industries calendar and it takes place on Wednesday and Thursday June 8 and 9. The conference element of XpoNorth and the training opportunities will be at the Eden Court Theatre.

Festival organisers have placed an added emphasis on practical hands- on training and support for anyone who wants to get ahead in their chosen field within the creative industries, no matter their level. The festival is for people of all ages and at all stages of their careers.

In collaboration with the Highland Youth Arts Hub, there is even the opportunity for groups of young people from five secondary schools from across the Highlands and islands to attend XpoNorth on either day, with bursaries of up to £ 300 on offer to cover travel and accommodation. The deadline for submissions is Friday May 20.

There are 11 free masterclasses on offer at XpoNorth. The workshops have limited numbers so participants are being encouraged to sign up promptly to take advantage of being up close and personal with industry insiders.

XpoNorth’s two- day Hit The Ground Running Course is designed for people based in the Highlands and islands who have been trying to get a foot in the television or film door.

To book go to http://eepurl.com/ bY96uD.

XpoNorth 2016 training workshops include: Crowdfunding? It’s About More Than Getting the Money, with Patricia van den Akker, director of The Design Trust; Introduction to Film Producing, with director Richard Warden; The Secret of Good Documentary Storytelling, with director Robbie Fraser and editor Clyde Wallbanks; An Introduction to Game Narrative, with writer and designer Tom Knights; Short Films: Script to Screen, with Damien O’Connor; BBC The Social, with Anthony Browne, from BBC Scotland; BAFTA Scotland and Skills Development Scotland, with editor Bill Gill; Applying 3D Printing to Local Businesses, with Paul Smith, from Glasgow School of Art; Lyric writing: Freedom in Rules and Restrictions, songwriting with Calum Wood; How to Shoot 360 Content, with film-makers Niall Macdonald and Calum Macdonald; The No/ Low Budget Film-making Event, with Martyn Robertson and Ian Bustard of Urbancroft Films.

Many of the creative industry insiders taking part in the masterclasses will appear on the festival’s own TV station XpoNorth Live!.

The festival aims to showcase the best of XpoNorth’s chat, craic, music and talent, tracking every session, panel and showcase for the wider world to enjoy. Its trainees will learn a host of vital skills, including how to write a TV script, preparing a brief and briefing a presenter, managing talent, digital editing, compliance, copyright and legal reporting.

Festival director Amanda Millen said the increased emphasis on training at this year’s XpoNorth highlighted the commitment the event had to fostering creative careers across the Highlands and Islands and beyond.

Ms Millen, a former BBC producer who also heads up ScreenHI, the screen and broadcast wing of XpoNorth, added: ‘This year, I think XpoNorth has come of age. There is so much creative activity going on in the Highlands and islands and the digital era has opened up possibilities which means that it’s a fantastic place to make work and to do business.

‘ We are looking for people of all ages to come to XpoNorth and take part. There is free, practical handson training, advice and networking every which way you turn. XpoNorth offers a mix of seasoned industry insiders and people looking to put themselves out there and jump on the creative career ladder.

‘The television station is a really exciting development which has grown out of the live radio station which we have staged in previous years and which has led to many individuals getting a break into a highly competitive industry.

‘Go online and register now for a workshop or a one-to- one, or take the plunge and apply to be part of XpoNorth Live! or Hit The Ground Running.’

For more information, about the festival, which is funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the European Regional Development Fund and Creative Scotland, go to the website at www. xponorth.co.uk