Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, has confirmed his participation at the Media Festival Arts taking place at London’s Roundhouse, Oct 8 -10. 

Hunt will address over 300 delegates from across arts, film and media, followed by an in-depth interview by Peter Bazalgette, Deputy Chairman of the English National Opera and Festival Chairman.

In a period when the Government has announced its plans to abolish the UK Film Council and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, Hunt will be offering  his vision for the Government’s relationship with the creative industries.

The festival, a new event allied to November’s The Media Festival, is organised by Broadcast, Screen and shots in partnership with Arts Council England and the UK Film Council. Other speakers confirmed include Mark Thompson, Director General, BBC; Dame Liz Forgan, Chair, Arts Council England; director Sally Potter; Alan Yentob, Creative Director, BBC and David Sabel, Head of NT Live at The National Theatre.

The event’s primary aim is to stimulate partnerships that will lead to inventive and original programming. During the three-day festival delegates will have the opportunity to network with the country’s leading artist organisations and broadcasts and learn about multiplatform and interactive innovation.

Andrew Nairne, Director of Arts at festival sponsor Arts Council England said: “People in the arts already work together in exciting and imaginative ways, but in a time when everyone is facing a tough public spending round, it is essential that we have even more conversations with each other. By working more collaboratively we can create a stronger, more sustainable and innovative sector that can respond to the rapidly changing environment. That is why the connections and ideas that will come out of this festival will be so important.  The Arts Council is excited by its possibilities and we’d encourage professionals across the arts to join us.”

Adam Gee, Commissioning Editor, Cross-Platform (Factual & Arts), Channel 4, said: “With the seismic shifts in arts funding and the digital tremors running through broadcasting, the arts media are getting a fundamental rethink - Media Festival Arts is an ideal time and place to get a sense of how things are being reshaped.”

David Sabel, Head of Digital Media, National Theatre, said: “At a time when we must continue to innovate, it’s exciting to bring together this diverse group of people to spark debate, bounce ideas off each other and create opportunities”. 

Attendees at the event (organised by Screen’s parent company Emap) will include: BBC, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Arts and Business, Arts Council England, Arts Marketing Association, Barbican Centre, BBC Research & Development, Belgrade Theatre, Bristol Old Vic Trust Limited, British Film Institute, Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation, Charnwood Arts, Cheltenham Festivals, English National Opera, FACT, Film Agency for Wales, First Light, Fremantle Media Enterprises, Fuel, Gem Arts, Glyndebourne, Hoipolloi, Kent County Council, Live Art Development Agency, London Borough of Newham, Oxford Brookes University, London Symphony Orchestra, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Sandwell Arts Trust, Scottish Arts Council, Screen East, Screen South, South East Dance, South West Screen, Storm 360, The Blue Skies Partnership, The Open University, Trinity Theatre and University of Sunderland.

For more information, visit the festival’s website.

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