New Technologies in Heritage, Interpretation and Outreach: Digital Past 2015

Event Date: 11 and 12 February 2015
Location: Brangwyn Hall, The Guildhall, Swansea

Organised by: +Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales 

This year’s Digital Past Conference will be held in the spectacular venue of the grade I listed Swansea Guildhall complex designed by Percy Thomas of Cardiff. Four austere blocks with facades of white Portland stone are ranged around a central courtyard incorporate the Law Courts, Council Chamber, the Brangwyn Hall and ceremonial rooms. Construction of the Guildhall, opened on 23 October 1934, began in 1930. The Guildhall was the fulfilment of Swansea County Borough Council’s wish to have an impressive architectural statement of the town’s civic identity.The Guildhall exemplifies the simplicity and beauty of modernism but with embellishments which identify the building with Swansea, particularly the details of the landmark clock-tower design and internal decorative reminders of Swansea’s Viking origins.

Aerofilms photo of the newly-built Swansea Guildhall in 1935: the venue of the Royal Commission’s Digital Past 2015 conference.

Named after the artist Frank Brangwyn, the Brangwyn Hall is an assembly room with seating for up to 1,300 people. Its most prominent features are the seventeen wall-paintings by the artist, commissioned in 1924 to commemorate the First World War. Known as the British Empire Panels, the highly-coloured paintings were created originally for the House of Lords, and are, in the words of Brangwyn, a “panorama of the beauty of Greater Britain…[to show] what the Forces of the Empire fought for.” However, following the display of the first five panels in 1930, they were rejected by the House of Lords. Undaunted, Brangwyn completed the set in 1932, and after exhibition at the Ideal Home Exhibition they were acquired for the new Guildhall, where they can still be viewed today.

The themes of this year’s Digital Past are Visual Heritage and Digital Public & Community Archaeology. Delegates will be offered a combination of presentations, seminar sessions and hands-on workshops and demonstrations in a friendly and informal atmosphere that aim to promote the exchange of ideas and facilitate networking.

Exhibition and Poster stands provide an opportunity for displays and the demonstration of projects or products, and the chance to talk to heritage organisations, societies, universities, product developers and retailers.

Delegate registration for the two day conference, 11-12 February 2015, is only £69 (to include morning & afternoon refreshments and lunches).  A three-course conference dinner will be held in the Lord Mayor's Reception Hall on 11 February, and will cost £30.

Sponsorship of the event is invited. There are a range of packages available to suit different budgets, offering a variety of benefits including logo branding, advertising and the ability to showcase projects and products during the two-day event. Stands are also available over the two days: an exhibition stand for two days is £100, with a half size-poster stand £50.

If you are keen to sponsor any aspect of the conference, or would like to exhibit or advertise with us, please do not hesitate to get in touch and discuss options with our staff.

For information about the conference please go to: http://digitalpast2015.blogspot.co.uk
For registration go to: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk
Follow #digitalpast2015

We look forward to welcoming you to Digital Past in 2015!


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