We’re rolling two weeks into one for this installment of our blog – Monday 17th to Friday 28th September. Here’s a round-up of the most exciting things that have happened in and around the Studio since our last update!
 
Our Director Clare gave a keynote at last week’s Hide & Seek conference, Playing in Public on Monday 17th September. The event was held ‘to illuminate the latest and best thinking around the subject of public play’ and Clare’s talk was about ‘Technology for public spaces – an insider’s guide’. Studio residents Laura Kriefman and Rosie Fairchild delivered flash presentations of their work with the Guerilla Dance Project and Splash and Ripple as part of the programme.
 
Last Tuesday a delegation from the Barcelona Design Innovation Centre, visited Bristol bringing with them a number of exciting Catalan digital companies. Verity met with BDCI’s Cluster Manager Sonia Monclús and her colleagues to share ideas.
 
We are very pleased to remind you all that we launched two call-outs last week. You can find out more about the Craft and Technology residencies and the Graduate and New Talent: Communicating Science residencies on the Watershed website.
 
Our new resident start-up company Opposable Games tested their multi-screen game Clockwork Racers last week. The lecturers on the Tech Games course at UWE set their first years an analytical challenge and the twelve winners got to take part in the game test. Designed for eight players, this was the first time they’d been able to test with enough players – it went well, the feedback was good and they’re running another test this week with some of the bugs ironed out. You can read more about the emotional rollercoaster of putting your games out there to be tested on their blog.
 
Assemble 2012 took place last Thursday, a Crafts Council conference exploring ‘the contribution craft makes to innovation and enterprise, and the relationship between making, science and technology’. Clare gave an inspiring keynote about Watershed projects and the Studio’s ethos.
 
Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury visited to the Studio for a round-table with Bristol City Council, local business people and support agencies. The discussion focussed on innovation, jobs and growth in Bristol and the South West.
 
As well as being a producer here at Watershed, Victoria is also part of the Collect, a loose affiliation of artists and creative producers based in Bristol. Last week quite a few of our residents went along to be challenged, amused and inspired at the Collect’s Artists' Games Night, curated in response to Spike Island’s current exhibition Rogue Game. Everyone had a fantastic evening playing a whole bunch of games by and inspired by artists. More info here: http://www.thecollect.org/projects/artists-games/
 
We are delighted to welcome new resident Will Luton to the Studio. Will has been Creative Director of Bristol mobile game developers Mobile Pie for 3.5 years, and last worked with the Studio on a project called Blossom Bristol, a Media Sandbox 2010 commission. Will has now set up his own company, Doctor Monolith, and will be developing his new venture here with us at the Studio. He is currently offering consultancy services in free-to-play games.
 
This week nu desine had a very special AlphaSphere tester, Talvin Singh, a producer and composer renowned for fusing Indian and classical music with drum and bass. After leaving he tweeted his thanks – ‘Had the most amazing afternoon with the Alphasphere team in Bristol. Thank you for bringing this new creation to life. Awesome vision and work.’ Just another of the artists pioneering this new instrument, designed for now.

Finally, don’t forget today’s REACT Heritage Sandbox Showcase, 1.30 - 4pm. If you weren’t lucky enough to get a ticket you can watch the live-stream here. The event will also go up on DShed very soon.