Culture in Numbers

The first Leeds Data Mill event was held in February 2014 at The Tetley in Leeds where we had speakers from national organisations from across the UK such as the V&A and Northern Ballet. We also featured independents and start ups such as Mar Dixon and Curator Space. A year on from this event we will return to Culture in Numbers which a free to attend platform to explore ideas, projects and provocations for open data in the culture and arts sector.

Each ‘In Numbers’ event also shines a spotlight on exciting innovations in Leeds. And we are proud to present #LeedsArtCrawl, one of the first Leeds Data Mill projects, at this year’s event. The day will also feature a Q&A with Cluny Macpherson, Chief Officer of Culture and Sport at Leeds City Council, exploring the city council approach to open data and how this is being applied to its cultural data.

Culture in Numbers is an opportunity for you to find out more about open data in a relaxed and informal setting. With this in mind we have included a workshop by Alastair Somerville, a leading expert on how to make digital solutions such as Open Data more accessible to a wider audience. The lead for open data at Leeds City Council will also be at hand to answer your questions.

We are pleased to announce our first speakers for this event:

Milou van Oene, Communication & Publicity, Museum De Lakenhal, Leiden (The Netherlands) In the year 2014, Museum De Lakenhal undertook a major project. A completely new website was released, revolving around storytelling and including a complete overview of the collection. The collection covers over 23.000 items of the city’s art and history and was already digitalized and photographed in 2010. Now the final chapter is added, as all images are not only shown, but are also made available for download. Milou van Oene, project leader for the museum’s (online) communication, will talk about the complicated proces of clearing copyrights and other related issues concerning open data.

Dr. Sara Perry, Director of Studies of Digital Heritage and Lecturer in Cultural Heritage Management at the University of York.  Dr. Perry’s research centres on the relationship between digital/analogue media and knowledge-making, particularly the capacity for different forms of presentation to create, elaborate and disrupt our notions of heritage. Sara sits on the board of the Society for Visual Anthropology; is a coordinator of both the University of York’s Heritage & Play series and its York Heritage Research Seminars; and acts on the advisory committee of UCL’s Centre for Audio-Visual Study and Practice in Archaeology.

Miz De Shannon, Leeds Art Crawl

Miz has worked in marketing and audience development for over a decade, with businesses from Orange and Virgin to Arts Council NPOs. She is currently in charge of PR & Communications at Leeds College of Music.At Leeds Art Crawl Miz supports the development work done by Wetgenes by building relationships across the city and social media engagement.

Feargus O’Sullivan, CityLab

Feargus O’Sullivan is a journalist who covers Europe for the Washington-based cities magazine Citylab, as well as writing for other publications including the Guardian and the Financial Times.  As part of his writing on cities, Feargus has outlined the concept of “artwashing” – the disingenuous use of creative industries as a “regenerative detergent” in urban areas.

Dafydd James, National Museum of Wales

Dafydd leads the Digital Media department at Amgueddfa Cymru — National Museum Wales, which is responsible for delivering digital projects for all seven national museums in Wales. He has 12 years experience of working with technology in the cultural, heritage and learning sectors, including over six years of leading a team with responsibilities in creating websites, software development, exhibition displays, online content and digital marketing. Dafydd also leads the People’s Collection Wales Technology Group and is a committee member for the Museums Computer Group.

Speakers also include: Emma Bearman, Playful Leeds Payal Wadhwa, ICR

Leeds Data Mill will be welcoming Alastair Somerville from Acuity Design back to Leeds to deliver a hands-on afternoon workshop session.

Lunch and refreshments will be available.