2009 has been a busy year. In the past 12 months, the Studio and its residents have received some great recognition including the Studio's Media Innovation Award For Outstanding Contribution, Hazel Grian's One World Media Award and Duncan Speakman's Vauxhall commission for as if it were the last time. Studio Director Clare Reddington was also shortlisted as a finalist in the UK Young Interactive Entrepreneur 2009, which will be announced in February.

We were also particularly delighted to be one of 18 recipients of Technology Strategy Board funding, for a collaborative research project with  Bristol Old Vic, Historic Royal Palaces, the New Museum of Bristol and Calvium. Entitled 'Unlocking markets for content delivery' the project will deliver software and prototype pervasive media services that explore how new and existing content-rich experiences can be commercially delivered. Read more here.

Other highlights of the year include:

Projects

Project highlights this year included the Extended Theatre Experience which explored the understanding and potential usage of digital technology in the theatre sector; the publishing of a Media Sandbox book; Duncan Speakman's Subtlemobs in London, Bristol, Liverpool and Birmingham and AntiVJ's Projecting Holograms.

We have also welcomed many new faces to Open Studio Friday, Lunchtime Talks and the wider Studio community. Among the busiest weekends was, of course, Igest 2009 when over 1000  players from across the world raced through Bristol.

[video:http://vimeo.com/7703695]

In 2010 look out for more Media Sandbox and the addition of Theatre Sandbox, a national scheme to support the production of six new experimental pieces of theatre/performance which utilise pervasive media technologies.

Hellos and Goodbyes

2009 saw some founding residents graduate from the Studio to continue their success in the South West. Mobile Pie have developed into an award winning mobile content development studio specialising in games and entertainment; Thought Den have extended their impressive portfolio with a game for the government’s Fire Kills campaign and pervasive media training sessions for the BBC; Simon Games hosted the hugely successful igfest 09 and cooperated with London’s Soho Theatre on social street game Drom.

Among the individuals and organisations that have joined the Studio in recent months are start-up company Calvium, artist and scientist Luke Jerram and Tim Kindberg's start-up Matter 2 Media. To find a full list of collaborators click here. 

Visits, Travels and Guests

2009 was a year of exciting visits, trips and festivals; the Guardian Technology podcast was recorded at the studio and featured interviews with many residents; Jim Knight, the Minister for the South West visited us in the context of the Digital Britain report and legendary music producer Jools Holland supported Media Sandbox commission Visual Voice Pro.

Our favourite 2009 destinations include Glastonbury Festival where Studio Resident Tarim decorated the BBC village screen with his Instant Graffiti; Birds Eye View film festival where we provided a taste of pervasive media and SXSW Interactive Festival 09 attended by Clare Reddington and a party of 20 creatives, for which Simon Games released the Hat Game to substantial press attention. The studio will be back at SXSW 2010 when Clare Reddington will chair the SXSW Interactive panel Pervasive Games and Playful Experiences in March.

Digital Cultures Research Centre 

Late in 2009, the University of the West of England became an official partner of the Pervasive Media Studio. The Digital Cultures Research Centre (DCRC), which is now based within the Studio, represents and promotes the work of a diverse network of researchers from the Faculty of Creative Arts and the Bristol Institute of Technology.

Read more: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/sca/research/dcrc.shtml

And as ever, if you have a pervasive media idea you are looking to develop, please get in touch.