Music Program Hosts Multimedia Conference
Singer-songwriter Thao Nguyen will participate in the keynote interview at the DC Talks Music/FilmDocs/Media Conference on Saturday, October 28. (Photo: Wikimedia)
October 20, 2017 — The Georgetown College Music Program, in conjunction with the Music Policy Forum, Listen Local First, and 202Creates, is hosting an all-day multimedia conference on the role of the public sector in expanding the digital cultural landscape on October 28.
DC Talks Music/FilmDocs/Media: Cross-Sector Dialogue in Today’s Digital Culture, held in Lohrfink Auditorium in the Rafik B. Hariri Building, will feature an all-star lineup of musicians, documentary filmmakers, comedians, podcasters, researchers and government officials from across the country. The goal is to explore what the various arts communities and media might learn from each other and to discover how like-minded creators can benefit from integrating strategies and networks.
DC Talks Music/FilmDocs/Media was planned by Anna Celenza, the Thomas E. Caestecker Professor of Music as part of her class MUSC-461: Music Industry Seminar. Each year Celenza works with stakeholders in D.C.’s arts economy to organize a national conference on a music industry-related issue. While last year’s conference directly addressed the D.C. music scene, this year’s aims to incorporate creators from across the media landscape.
“We’re expanding the conversation to include a wide range of creators – musicians, podcasters, comedians, filmmakers – all of whom depend more and more on digital media,” said Celenza.
The seven-hour conference features discussions and presentations on music ecosystem development, documentary filmmaking strategy, digital distribution, podcasting, music economics research, comedy, civic leadership, and public-private partnerships.
The keynote interview features singer-songwriter Thao Nguyen and Donald Young, Director of Programs for the Center for Asian American Media. It will be moderated by Bernie Cook, Associate Dean of the College and Director of the Film and Media Studies Program.
Other featured speakers include actor and musician Anwan Glover; Jax Deluca, NEA Media Arts Director; podcasters Aaron Henkin & Wendel Patrick; Cynthia Lopez, former Commissioner of New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment; and representatives from social enterprise Broccoli City.
“We live in a competitive entertainment marketplace where digital technology has fundamentally shifted the relationship between creator and audience,” said Music Policy Forum founder Michael Bracy. “Public and philanthropic sectors are rethinking how policies, programs and strategies can support healthy, sustainable arts ecosystems. We organized this conference to push those conversations forward, and we’re excited to work with Georgetown as a partner.”
The conference is free for Georgetown University students, faculty, and staff. Tickets for community members to attend DC Talks Music/FilmDocs/Media are selling for $10 and include lunch. For more information, including a full schedule of speakers, visit the DC Talks website.