A short talk from Laia Gasch who leads the World Cities Culture forum, a global network of cities dedicated to advancing creativity in urban environments.

Laia Gasch, Director, World Cities Culture Forum

Montreal’s thriving digital economy has made it one of the leading global centres in the sector, attracting major international companies with its vibrant arts and culture scene and comprehensive ecosystem of talent development, research centres and showcasing. This panel will examine the interplay of policies, initiatives and cultural dynamics that have shaped Montreal’s creative landscape and offer insights into its continued growth as a creative hub.

Hilary Knight, Cultural Consultant

Rachel Parent, Co-Executive Director, Hub Montreal

Local creatives share insights on how city living influences their work and inspires their creative journeys. This short talk will explore the dynamic interplay between urban spaces and creativity—discovering how cities shape ideas, fuel innovation, and impact the way work is made and experienced.

Corey (aka Superlative) Brown, Rapper / Music Producer

Keisha Thompson, Independent Artist / Producer

As Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham has been a driving force behind the regions rise as creative powerhouse. A strong advocate for creativity as a catalyst for urban growth and social change, he will share his thoughts on the role of culture in shaping cities.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

How are successful cultural institutions engineered? What role do they play in urban and regional development, and how do they continuously re-energise their relationships with audiences, communities and the city? Julia Fawcett, longstanding CEO of The Lowry, and Christine Cort, co-founder of Manchester International Festival, reflect on their central roles in the cultural trajectories of Salford and Manchester.

Iain Bennett, Director, The Fifth Sector

Christine Cort, Company Director, CC & Friends

Julia Fawcett, CEO, The Lowry

This session explores strategies for building a thriving cross-disciplinary ecosystem that integrates art, culture, science, and technology to drive innovation and creativity in the world’s fastest-growing tech city.

Jahnavi Phalkey, Founding Director, Science Gallery Bengaluru

How does a city work at the local scale to build a creative workforce? This panel will look at how a city can create training routes and opportunities that respond to creative sector needs and broaden access to creative careers.

Nihal Arthanayake, TV Presenter and Broadcaster

Joanne Dunn, Founder / Director, Marion Centre of Excellence

Andy Miah, Chair of Science Communication & Future Media, University of Salford, Manchester

Kiran Sethi, Programme Manager, Factory International

Manchester’s influential music scene has made a lasting impact worldwide. We explore how the region’s music venues, media and talent can defend its future as a music city in the face of rapid urban development and increasing pressures on the industry.

Nihal Arthanayake, TV Presenter and Broadcaster

Rachel Davies, Commissioning Editor, BBC, Pop Music Television

Santana Guerout, Chief Programming Officer, Band on the Wall / Inner City Music

Jay Taylor, England National Coordinator, Music Venue Trust

Discover the “Silicon Savannah” through the lens of BlackRhino VR, a trailblazing creative technology hub. At the heart of Nairobi, a phygital revolution is emerging, where culture, creativity, and technology converge to transform how people live, work, and connect. This remarkable transformation is reshaping local culture in profound and unprecedented ways.

Brian Afande, CEO, BlackRhino VR

Uncover the bold vision and pivotal moments that have shaped media hubs like Bergen and Salford. Learn how these creative powerhouses measure success and embed innovation at their core. Then, take a glimpse into the future of media cities as cutting-edge technology drives the next wave of transformation.

Martyn Evans, Creative Director, Landsec & MediaCity

Marlen Komorowski, Senior Research Fellow, Cardiff University

Ketil Moland Olsen, Senior Project Manager, Media Cluster Norway

Join Dr. Catherine Baker as she shares key insights from her research on international relations and mega-events. Discover the role of cultural relations in shaping these global events and learn valuable lessons from past successes like Eurovision 2023 and Hull City of Culture.

Catherine Baker, Reader in 20th Century History, University of Hull

When it comes to articulating the value of creativity, conventional models of economic growth only give us part of the picture. In this panel, global creative leaders explore alternative integrated models that prioritise local value and a long-term approach to inclusive prosperity and wellbeing for urban populations. What happens when we reimagine our cities through the lens of a people-centred approach? What role does innovation play in the cultural needs of communities, and how can creative initiatives support inclusive sustainable growth?

Hector (aka Xquizified) Dibakoane, Cultural Curator and Storyteller, Makers Valley

Moky Makura, Executive Director, Africa No Filter

Natalia Palombo, Director, Many Studios / Freelance

Katie Popperwell, Chair of Manchester City of Literature, CET / Freelance

Join a fireside chat with the project leads from Niantic and Sugar Creative as they discuss their groundbreaking AR city-scale heritage experience. Using game assets from Assassin’s Creed, this project brings Winchester’s Viking past to life on city streets, showcasing the future possibilities of heritage location-based AR storytelling.

Joe Gabriel, Sr. Developer Relations Lead, Niantic

Will Humphrey, Creative Director, Sugar Creative Studio

Tasha Moorhouse, Innovation Specialist – Digital, GM Business Growth Hub

With the UK’s ‘modern’ industrial strategy recognising the Creative Industries as a key growth sector, what role does the government envision for our Creative Cities? And how would cities respond if innovation funding were withdrawn? Join our panel to discuss whether Cities, Regions, or Creative Corridors are the optimal path forward, or if the true opportunities lie in unlocking the talent, youth, and creativity within our urban areas. With policy still in the consultation phase, engage with a dynamic panel that brings diverse perspectives on creative-led city growth.

Tom Adeyoola, Tech Entrepreneur, Extend Ventures

Andrew Chitty, Professor of Creativity & Innovation, Loughborough University London

Jude Kelly, CEO and Founder, The WOW Foundation

Kate Tague, Chief Executive Officer, BOA Group

Paul Dennett, the Mayor of our host city of Salford, reflects on the BEYOND Creative Cities programme

Paul Dennett, Mayor of Salford, Salford City Council

Our poet-in-residence, Keisha Thompson, weaves her observations of Day 01 of BEYOND into verse

Keisha Thompson, Independent Artist / Producer

This live performance session will showcase a new tool for remote digital dance composition and collaboration. The tool integrates two existing platforms—Alexander Whitley Dance Company’s ‘Otmo’ app and Goldsmiths’ Mocap Streamer—allowing choreographers and dancers to work together in real time, even remotely. With a user-friendly interface, the tool streams motion capture data to any location, enabling instant visualisation and manipulation of avatars and choreographic effects, revolutionising the way dance can be created without physical co-presence.

Presented by XR Network+

Daniel Strutt, Senior Lecturer, Goldsmiths, University of London

Alexander Whitley, Artistic Director, Alexander Whitley Dance Company