A giant exhibition of media arts will take place in York next month – to celebrate the city’s 10th anniversary as the UK’s only UNESCO City of Media Arts.
In a first-of-its-kind event in the UK, the three day event will celebrate York as a global stage for film production, games development, VFX, publishing and design – and will give visitors the chance to see the impressive work happening across the region.
The UNESCO City of Media Arts Expo will take place at the Guildhall in York from Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 November.
The expo event is part of this year’s Aesthetica Film Festival.
Visitors to the Guildhall will be able to try out new projects and speak to creators such as VFX powerhouse Viridian, factual TV production company Button Down, and award-winning immersive games studio BetaJester.
The Expo will feature the premiere of the latest commissioned work from artist Steve Messam, Lantern I. Messam has designed Lantern I as an exploration of space and interaction, and will transform the historic Guildhall into an ‘immersive and ethereal environment’.
Messam is known for his large-scale installations that merge architecture and the natural environment. His temporary installation Portico was at York Art Gallery in 2022, and his permanent installation Mass can be seen at the National Railway Museum’s Wonderlab.
There will be 25 exhibiting businesses at the EXPO that cover a huge range of disciplines – including visual effects, film & TV, interactive design, gaming, graphic design, publishing, XR and more. These businesses showcase the scale of York and North Yorkshire’s cultural output, who work with big-name clients such as Apple TV+, BBC, HBO, Netflix, Channel 4, and ITV.
Cherie Federico, director of Aesthetica says: “The UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO is one of the most exciting and enriching experiences to celebrate the UK’s creative industries.
“In our region, we are working on a global stage and the EXPO celebrates 10 years of designation whilst also looking forward to how York can position itself as a national and international leader in the sector, creating jobs, driving inward investment and developing clear educational pathways.”
York is one of just 26 cities worldwide that was selected by UNESCO as a City of Media Arts, and is the only UK city with the designation.
Find out more about the UNESCO City of Media Arts Expo at the website here.