Waterside launches new digital hub
Diverge will be an online portal celebrating creativity in Trafford including a festive family adventure and an animation conference
Waterside has launched a brand new digital hub Diverge [divergehub.org], a live portal featuring a diverse range of creative content.
The launch of Diverge follows the recent announcement from Waterside that they will not be re-opening the venue to the public until Spring 2021. Like many cultural venues, Waterside had to close its doors in March, due to the pandemic. Waterside made the difficult decision to remain closed after hearing their bid to Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Culture Recovery Fund was unsuccessful. The reopening plans were reliant on the financial support from the DCMS.
Despite all these obstacles, Waterside’s innovative new digital hub will ensure audiences are entertained from their homes instead. Content will be streamed from the site and audiences can look forward to enjoying a fantastic range of cultural and creative entertainment. Diverge is a live hub and digital works created by Waterside and Creative Industries Trafford will showcase work from artists in Trafford and work that has been made in the borough.
First up on Diverge, will be the annual Puppet Masters Conference which will be streamed Weds 11 November to Sat 14 November, and will be free to all viewers.
Now in its sixth year, Puppet Masters is the UK’s number one conference for animators from all backgrounds, featuring masterclass talks from leading figures in animation. This year it will be accessed virtually through Diverge, with four events over four evenings, opening up the opportunity for a wider international audience to take part.
This year’s programme will feature ‘In Conservation with Phil Tippett’. Phil is one of animation’s most legendary figures, he is an Oscar and Emmy award-winning visual effects supervisor and producer specialising in stop motion whose credits include Star Wars and Jurassic Park.
There will also be a talk from puppet master Georgina Hayns, who amongst other credits, worked with LAIKA as Puppet Fabricator on films such as Coraline. And on Thursday 12 November, Steve Henderson from Manchester Animation Festival, will host a panel looking at guidance for emerging animators on how the industry is doing to survive the COVID:19 pandemic.
Francesca Maxwell, Production Designer, who has worked with Tim Burton, will explore ‘Storytelling Through Visual Images’ on Friday 13 November. For the full Puppet Masters Conference 2020 programme and schedule visit divergehub.org.
Family audiences will be wowed by Humbug from Wrongsemble who are renowned for their popular Christmas productions.
This online interactive theatrical adventure comprises seven episodes which can be accessed throughout December and is accompanied by an interactive Fact File with 13 artefacts sent directly to families’ homes.
Humbug is also available for schools transporting the joy of a Christmas show into the safety of the classroom. Schools can enjoy the seven filmed episodes which will be accompanied by a printable Humbug Resource Pack and suggested extended learning opportunities for Key Stages 1 and 2. Find out more here.
Also, coming soon on Diverge, The Northern Lights Writers’ Conference 2020 returns for the seventh consecutive edition from Monday 23 to Thursday 26 November. The conference presents a series of free digital professional events for emerging and established writers. This year’s guest speaker is Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, a multi-million selling novel that topped the New York Times best sellers chart. Interested participants can register via divergehub.org
More commissioned work for Diverge also includes Family Gorgeous Story Time and Vogue at Home. For more information on Diverge and forthcoming digital content from Waterside, go to divergehub.org or contact hello@divergehub.org
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