A creative delegation from Greater Manchester led by Mayor Andy Burnham is heading to the annual Texas creative shindig South by Southwest (SXSW) next month.
Five creative businesses from Greater Manchester will join Burnham and senior officials from local authorities at the in Austin event, which traditionally offers a platform to explore groundbreaking concepts and connect with like-minded professionals. The event also presents an opportunity for businesses to make industry connections worldwide, meet potential investors and collaborators, and represent Greater Manchester’s thriving creative industries on a global stage.
For the third year, GM Business Growth Hub is helping creative businesses to fly the flag for Greater Manchester in Texas. Joining this year’s delegation are PR company Scoop PR and production house Opulence Pictures from Manchester, Gaming firm Play XD and MediaCity-based music and audio specialist Gas Music, both from from Salford, and Rochdale branding and digital expert NALA Creative.
“Our growing relationship with Texas, particularly in the technology and advanced manufacturing sector, has already created significant opportunities for both regions,” said Burnham.
“At SXSW, we’re not just showcasing Greater Manchester’s success – we’re presenting the collective strength of a city-region that’s rapidly becoming one of Europe’s most exciting business destinations.
“This delegation represents our largest and most ambitious presence at SXSW to date, reflecting the scale of opportunity we see in strengthening ties between Greater Manchester and Texas.”
Becki Coen, digital, creative and technology (DCT) programme manager at GM Business Growth Hub, added: “Attending SXSW is a wonderful opportunity for creative businesses in our region.
“SXSW is a vibrant hub of innovation and creativity, where thousands of brilliant minds come together to forge new connections and explore international markets.
“Returning to SXSW for a third consecutive year gives us a platform to showcase Greater Manchester as a leader in the creative industries, as well as providing the opportunity for our cohort of businesses to develop new relationships in the US and ignite fresh ideas, massively boosting their growth both regionally and on a global scale.”
During the US trade mission, the Manchester delegation will meet with the likes of Cloud Imperium Games, Dell, AECOM, Axiom, Qualcomm and more.
Image: Jouaienttoi/Creative Commons
