SXSW 2012

Imagine turning one of your city's most beleaguered and notorious neighborhoods into the home of some of the country's most innovative media projects. This panel examines how the Knowle West Media Centre in Bristol achieved just that. The KWMC's University of Local Knowledge project has inspired astounding community growth and regeneration through collaborative media. The KWMC created 800 videos about local crafts and skills; then they brought professionals together with local experts to learn from one another about everything from cars to photography to horse whispering. The project was organized through a green, world-class media centre established in one of the more troubled parts of Bristol. The panel examines how the project directors used digital media and digital art to make the ULK project a success in engaging and teaching digital literacy, as well assisting in community regeneration.
This process involved a creative use of public space, media centre space, wikis, blogging, videography, computer classes, and sound mixing studios to combine the physical and digital into one cohesive learning environment. KWMC Director Carolyn Hassan will explain the process and answer question about the use of collaborative media for successful community regeneration.

The Austin Chronicle recommends this event in "Tumblr Today, the Tate Tomorrow: Does the rise of social media mean more art or just more noise?" Read the full feature here.