Sweden's artistic, cultural and creative industries account for a large share of the country's innovative power and play a crucial role in shaping the sustainable development of the future - and Umeå's creators are at the forefront. During Design Week, eXpression Umeå is taking place with a series of initiatives to draw attention to the strong local network of creative entrepreneurs and at the same time take the opportunity to celebrate six years as an incubator.
- Umeå is today a hub for the cultural and creative industries and we are very proud to take place during this week together with creators from eXpression, with leading designers, architects, artists, musicians, filmmakers and fashion designers who are building strong ecosystems of collaboration to grow nationally and internationally, says Marlene Johansson, CEO of eXpression Umeå.
The Design Week, which this year takes place between 31 August and 4 September, is organised in collaboration with the Design by Umeå network, which consists of Umeå Municipality, Umeå School of Design, Umeå School of Architecture, Umeå School of the Arts, Bildmuseet, Artic Design of Sweden, RISE and eXpression Umeå. The aim of the collaboration is to promote and give visibility to the region's creative innovation power where co-creation, world-improvement, passion and progressiveness are natural ingredients.
As one of Sweden's leading incubators for the artistic, cultural and creative industries, eXpression Umeå wants to take the opportunity during Design Week to both celebrate and draw attention to creators who are constantly breaking new ground, challenging prevailing business models and, due to strong networks, have managed to resist when times have become tough.
- We all face complex challenges today, not least because of the ongoing pandemic. However, many companies in the creative industries have shown resilience in the past because they have built their businesses through strong ecosystems and collaboration. "The 'do-it-yourself' culture combined with the co-creation of new innovative business models is the way forward, and we want to demonstrate this together," says Marlene Johansson.
eXpression Umeå also takes the opportunity to celebrate six years as an incubator, which will be celebrated on Tuesday at lunch when CreativeMeetup is arranged - a live digital event with panel discussions, film screenings and music.
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Here are eXpression Umeå's events during Design Week 2020:
CREATIVE MEETUP
(Tuesday 1 Sep, 12:00-13:00, Digital)
eXpression Umeå celebrates 6 years as an incubator by inviting all creative entrepreneurs and creators in Umeå to an energetic digital event - live from Curiosum on the artistic campus. The aim is both to make visible the innovative power that exists within the creative industries and to spread all the inspiration and energy that surrounds the amazing local community of creators.
Participants include the Random Bastards collective, Bryggverket, Proto Proto and Östensson Design Studio. The conversation is moderated by Annakarin Nyberg, eXpression Umeå.
Organiser: eXpression Umeå
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DESIGN TALK BY UMEÅ
(Friday 4 Sep, 15:00-17:00, School of Architecture/Digital)
A collection of nationally recognized experts delve into the importance of the physical workshop and tactile creation from a digital context. In addition, the opportunity for young talent to develop creatively at school will be addressed, as will the role of higher education in both maintaining and developing the world-leading role it has taken in the creative and artistic fields.
Participants include Ambra Trotto, RISE, Thomas Degn, UID, Clemens Thornquist, Borås School of Textiles, Marlene Johansson, eXpression Umeå, Madelen Bodin, Curiosum, Åsa Jaensson, aesthetic subjects, UmU, Maria Östensson, Östensson Design.The discussion will be chaired by Lotta Ahlvar, Chair of Swedish Design.
Organizers: Proto Proto in collaboration with eXpression Umeå and Design by Umeå.
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CREATIVE EXPLORER
(Monday 31 Aug, 19:00, Elektra)
Anna Parry of Proto Projects is on a lifelong journey of discovery to find the answers to how we can live better and create a better future through creativity. During Design Week she is kicking off a series of conversations with interesting people who have cracked the code, starting with Mats Widbom, CEO of Svensk Form. Maximum 50 people, so first come first served.
Organizers: Proto Proto, Elektra and eXpression Umeå
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LUNCH SEMINAR YOUNG SWEDISH FORM
(Thursday 3 Sep, 13:00, Utopia/Digital)
Designer Camilla Arnbert talks to Linnéa Therese Dimitriou about her exhibition SURFACED PRINT. "I am fascinated by methods where the process is allowed to leave a clear mark on the end result. By exposing heat-sensitive materials to a printing technique involving high temperatures, I have here explored the relationship between texture, print motif and movement."
Organizers: Ung Svensk Form and eXpression Umeå
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F/ACT MOVEMENT KICK OFF
(Thursday 3 Sep, 15:00, eXpression Pop-In, MVG-gallerian/Digitalt)
Anna Lidström, researcher in sustainable fashion at the Swedish School of Textiles in Borås, designer and one of the founders of the F/ACT Movement, talks about sustainable and circular fashion in a discussion moderated by Fil. Dr. Annakarin Nyberg, internet researcher and programme manager of the eXpressionFutureRetail Lab. Umeå's f/activists will be presented and Anna Moström, project manager for F/ACT Movement in Umeå will participate.
Organiser: eXpression Umeå
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CITIES, DESIGN AND INNOVATION
(Wed-Thurs2-3 Sep, Väven/Digital)
The roleof the Culture and CreativeIndustries in preparation for the EIT CCI KIC.The Culture and CreativeIndustries (CCI) are leading on gender equality and inclusion, facilitating cross-domain innovation and promotingearlyadoptersofemergingtechnologies. In this international conference and high-levelexpert meetingtherewill be discussions on the ways in which plans for a Knowledge and Innovation Community can benefit the developmentofgoal-oriented, hybrid innovations, new business models and creativetechnologyprototypingthat is crucial for futuredevelopment in Europe.
Organizer: Design by Umeå
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EXHIBITIONS DURING THE WEEK
EXPRESSION POP-IN (MVG-gallerian)
Creators from eXpression Umeå and High Coast Creative will exhibit and sell their products. Visit the exhibition in the MVG gallery, eXpression Pop-In.
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UNG SVENSK FORM (Utopia)
Young creators and designers exhibit their work in Utopia throughout the week. Well worth a visit! Stay tuned for more events in the space.
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DESIGN BY UMEÅ NETWORK
eXpression Umeå is part of the collaborative platform Design By Umeå, which is a network of several different actors who all work to make visible the region's creative soul where co-creation, innovation, world-improvement, passion and progressiveness are natural ingredients. The culmination of the collaboration is reached by Design Week. For more information on Design by Umeå and the week's programme in its entirety, please visit www.designbyumea.com.
