About

The Festival

Each May You Live in Interesting Times festival follows a specific theme. This year’s theme is ’do-it-yourself’.

With technology now firmly placed in the everyday we have put together a festival programme that explores how participation is increasingly the driving force behind much digital content. Mass-technology has enabled individuals and communities to become connected and share information. This has brought about new approaches and ways in which things get done such as openness and shared problem solving and, as we’ve found in putting together the programme, brought about interesting projects and ideas we think are worth sharing.

With creative technologists leading the way in developing reliable open source systems and products that are accessible to all, individuals and small groups can work together towards ‘collaborative knowledge development’. In the festival programme there are exhibitions that aim to address local problems through global networks - Ghana Think Tank- alongside events that open up the commissioning process - The People Speak’s Who Wants to Be…?. There are lots of events where people can share their thoughts and ideas - we’re really proud to host the first Maker Faire in Wales, and our unConference asks participants to lead conversations on technology. Plus we’re hosting a series of sandpits and workshops.

Who’s participating?

This year, as in 2005, we are working with a range of artists, innovators, social entrepreneurs and industry specialists to deliver a diverse programme of activity. The Festival is open to all, and given the array of events, we’re expecting a diverse range of visitors and participants.

Who’s supporting?

May You Live in Interesting Times, Festival of Creative Technology is a partnership between bloc: Creative Technology Wales and Chapter. The 2009 Festival programme has been developed in collaboration with the British Council, Ffotogallery, Safle and Wales Arts International.

The Festival has been further supported by the following: @Wales, Academi, Arts Council of Wales, Cardiff and Co, Cardiff Design Festival, Cyfle, ELFEN, G39/WARP, iShed, Maker Faire, National Museum Wales, National Theatre Wales, University of Glamorgan, University of Wales, Newport, Unltd, Wales Innovators Network, Welsh Assembly Government and 4iP.

Micro Maker Faire Wales has been produced in cooperation with Maker Faire.