Bossier Arts Council’s DigiFest expands with new editions
Bossier Arts Council’s “DigiFest South” launches version 2.0 Sept. 20-21 at the Bossier Civic Center.
New features of the festival’s sophomore edition include expanding across the river to partner with Shreveport nonprofits and businesses; “DigiPitch,” a panel of venture capitalists entertaining new business ideas; and two free musical concerts.
“We’re trying to grow DigiFest over a five-year period, but this year it has grown faster than we could have expected,” committee chair Clint McCommon said.
Leigh Chambers of the Bossier Arts Council agrees. “Last year, companies and nonprofits participated,” she said. “But this year they’re more collaborative. We’re strengthening community partnerships as well as relationships between Shreveport and Bossier.”
DigiFest is a technology and arts expo that educates the public about the digital arts world and how it affects the economy and daily living. The Bossier Arts Council’s primary goal for the event is to advocate arts education in the schools as an integral part of academic training. The event also exposes students to potential careers in the creative and digital mediafields.
“We’re labeled as a hub for digital media, but we can lose that if we don’t have a trained workforce,” Chambers said. “At DigiFest, students can enjoy interactive digital activities and then meet the developers who created them.”
“We want to show young kids and adults the world of opportunity available through creative, digital media education programs,” McCommon said. “And we hope to keep them here as part of our creative economy and grow our digital media presence.”
The event couldn’t come at a more appropriate time as the reputation of the region’s digital media industry flourishes.
For example:
• Moviemaker magazine calls Shreveport- Bossier the third best city in the nation for independent filmmaking;
• Shreveport-Bossier was recently ranked in the top 10 for economic potential by a Business Facilities rankings report.
• Cohab, a Shreveport business incubator, is providing a low-cost option to digital media business start-ups;
• And organizations – including schools – are working to make the area more attractive for digital media.
Clearly, Shreveport-Bossier City has the attention of the digital media industry.
“I believe we have the infrastructure, educational institutions and the people,” McCommon said. “Our hope is that DigiFest is a spark to really kick that growth in gear.”
Organizers stumbled upon the idea for the festival during a meeting about the creation of a mini-film festival. As a result, DigiFest coincides with the Phenom Film Festival, emphasizing the relevance of art combined with technology.
This year, DigiFest organizers have capitalized on the collaborative efforts of partners such as Cohab and Sci-Port, to bring new features to the event:
DigiPitch: Held at CoHab, this is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to a panel of venture capitalists. “Similar in format to (reality show) ‘Shark Tank,’ if investors like one of the pitches, they will provide funding for the project and be part of the entrepreneur’s executive council to help develop the business,” said McCommon.
Two free musical concerts staged at Red River District: Super Water Sympathy with Matthew Davidson opening on Friday; and a Digital Music Concert featuring Nanolog & Ryan Viser plus a laser light show on Saturday.
New interactive activities at Bossier Civic Center: including interactive floors and a mobile planetarium.
And TED Talk presentations at the Margaritaville Casino: featuring Jacques Rodrigue on “A+ Schools” and noted author/ speaker Maura Thomas.
Shreveport business Flyplyst is one of many local digital media companies involved in the festival. “DigiFest gives local support and networking opportunities for the digital and artist community and provides outside exposure for the local creative class,” Flyplyst founder and CEO Ron Gaudet said.
Jeremy Johnson, founder of Toomasooba, will present his company to investors at DigiPitch and also speak on the Knowledge Swap panel.
“I think it’s great that DigiFest connects creators in the Shreveport-Bossier area,” he said. “The collaborations and new ideas that are sparked at the festival can go out into the community, help make positive changes and inspire people to think in new ways.”
–Jeff Slaughter
WANT TO GO?
DigiFest South is Sept. 20-21 at Bossier Civic Center, 620 Benton Road and at satellite locations: Red River District, CoHab and Maragaritaville Casino. Tickets are $5 and include admission into the main floor of DigiFest South and all satellite locations. They can be purchased at the door or online at www.digifestsouth.com where you can also find more information.
