This autumn, twelve exceptional Digital Producers will join Watershed and National Theatre Wales to participate in a new programme that fosters digital talent, and aims to catalyse development of creative technology projects in Wales.

Supported by Arts Council Wales, Watershed’s Digital Producers Lab is the first programme of its kind to take place in the country. It aims to train a brilliant cohort of Digital Producers, who will go on to support each other, create new business opportunities and enable audiences to enjoy extraordinary new cultural experiences.

We’re delighted to announce that the twelve participants are:

• Alison John, co-founder of yello brick creative marketing agency and Cardiff’s annual PlayARK games festival.
• Tom Rack, Creative Director of NoFit State Circus and recent recipient of a prestigious Creative Wales Award.
• Matt Ball, theatre maker and recent Creative Associate at National Theatre Wales where he set up WalesLab, prior to joining NTW Matt was Artistic Director of Camden People's Theatre.
• David Massey, Digital Manager at Welsh National Opera.
• Craig Morrison, artist and curator of blinc digital festival in Conwy.
• Ruth Lloyd, new to Wales and setting up as a freelance producer, building of ten years of experience gained at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
• Lisa Heledd Jones, Director of Storyworks, a fledgling company that presents personal stories creatively, innovatively and appropriately, through short film, digital stories, performance and installation.
• Anne Siegel, independent filmmaker, events producer and Education & Creative Technology Manager at Ffotogallery in Cardiff.
• Laura Cotton, development editor for Touchpaper Television and producer of Codi Pais, a comedy-drama series for S4C, to broadcast in early 2015.
• Sarah Jane Leigh, freelance Arts Producer and Promoter, currently working on good cop bad cop and Chapter Arts Centre's Dylan Thomas 100 project, Teifi Emerald and Acts of Beauty's production WiLD, Buddug James Jones’ production Hiraeth and Youth of Creative Arts’ Project Fio.
• Michael Cousin, founder and producer of Outcasting and co-founder of Outcasting: Fourth Wall (O:4W), Wales’ first artists’ moving image festival.
• Catryn Ramasut, founder of ie ie productions, a Cardiff-based production company set up with partner Gruff Rhys in 2006. Prior work included roles within radio, television, print and advertising for BBC Radio 1, Marmalade Magazine and M&C Saatchi.

What are Digital Producers? They are a vital part of our cultural and economic landscape, bridging creative and technology sectors. They are highly skilled individuals who deliver brilliant, innovative projects, bringing new products, services and experiences to the public. In our current climate of social, cultural, economic and environmental change, Producers can rally the diverse talents of scientists, artists, technologists, designers, amateurs and academics, to share ideas, take risks and develop projects that make extraordinary contributions to the UK’s growing creative economy.

These twelve producers are no exception. Coming from a range of creative disciplines, each with their own perspective on what digital production could be, this scheme enables them to expand their networks and hone their valuable skills. Through a process of skills swapping, networking and knowledge exchange at National Theatre Wales’s office in Cardiff and Watershed’s Pervasive Media Studio in Bristol, they will explore aspects of creative technology production, dabble in a little creative tech development of their own and interrogate best practice case studies from leading practitioners such as the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Sarah Ellis who recently produced Midsummer Night's Dreaming in collaboration with Google Creative Labs.

Victoria Tillotson, Producer at Watershed, says

“Watershed are truly excited to work with National Theatre Wales and Arts Council Wales to support this amazing group of people. This is Wales’ first scheme specifically targeting creative Digital Producers. When we launched an open call for participants we had no idea what the response would be, but we were humbled by the quality and breadth of the applications we received. We are inspired by achievements and aspirations of this cohort, and look forward to seeing the ideas and projects that emerge.”

Katherine Jewkes, Digital Associate at National Theatre Wales says

"National Theatre Wales are delighted to be working with Watershed, Arts Council Wales and such a superb cohort of Digital Producers on this programme. We’ve been incredibly impressed by the range and quality of all of the applications, and are truly excited by the range of talent, experience and aspirations in the group.”

Lisa Matthews, Portfolio Manager at Arts Council of Wales, says

"We're proud to be able to support this initiative. As well as a springboard for twelve talented creative producers it's also an opportunity for the wider arts sector in Wales to benefit from the possibilities digital can bring. We're incredibly excited to see how things develop in the Lab and beyond."

Watershed’s Digital Producers Lab runs between September and November 2013. More information here.

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