Bristol Beacon to host CrossTalk 2023

Noods Levels & Bristol Beacon present CrossTalk 2023: a day of talks and workshops for creatives delivered via cutting edge industry professionals on 18 March at Bristol’s largest music venue, Bristol Beacon.

Over the course of the day, attendees will gain tangible insights into what’s needed to make a career in the creative sector, develop their practice and hear stories from those who have paved the way for the next generation to build upon. 

Talks will cover subjects including, Creating Worlds Through Music Composition in Video Games with The Flight (Horizon: Zero Dawn, Assassin's Creed Odyssey), Building an Art & Fashion Magazine as a Queer and Working Class Person with Tori West (BRICKS Magazine), and Carving A Path Into The TV Industry with Joelah Noble (Grime Daily, 1xtra, MTV).

In collaboration with the Museum of London, Noods Levels and Bristol Beacon are excited to welcome the Grime Stories Exhibition to CrossTalk 2023 alongside a Q&A with Risky Roadz and the exhibition’s producer Dhelia Snoussi hosted by Tom Koast. Bristol Beacon will be hosting the exhibition until 25 March.

As well as free tickets to the day available here, CrossTalk will also have bespoke workshops open for young people to apply for free here. Saffron Records in collaboration with Pioneer DJ’s CIC ‘Start From Scratch’ will offer a workshop encouraging and nurturing women, trans, non-binary and GNC DJ’s of the future. 

Aspiring live sound engineers will be able to participate in a workshop from Bristol Beacons in-house tech team showing young people how to successfully set up and run a live stage. 

Innovative software company Rocketmakers, will also be at hand on the day - running a public VR experience as well as holding a workshop for young creatives centred around VR & app development. 

Between talks, attendees will be able to take part in a selection of activities around the building. PMT will bring a selection of equipment for people to interact with as well as Noods Radio’s pop up station on the ground floor broadcasting a selection of Bristol’s most cherished young DJ’s.

To top the day off, CrossTalk’s After Party will take place following the talks - more info on this to be announced soon.

CrossTalk was developed for young people, by young people, showing that young creatives have a stake - and a place - in the cultivation of Bristol’s creative culture.

Izzy Cross, Levels Director said  “I feel so excited for our second edition of Crosstalk. We've really expanded on last year's event and have so much more to offer for anyone interested in arts and culture within Bristol. 

“Crosstalk has a really clear mission; to bring together experts from creative worlds to inspire the next generation. I just wish there was something like this around for when I was younger and needing advice on how to access my dream career.”

Owen Parry, Creative Producer, Bristol Beacon adds “We’ve really enjoyed collaborating with another local arts organisation behind the scenes to bring CrossTalk to life. Noods Levels have been doing some really interesting projects and they have done a super job on curating their second CrossTalk event with us which also aligns with many of our own aims in our programme of support for creatives. Together we have wanted to bring something a bit different to Bristol, by looking beyond our city for more unexpected examples of how creative careers can intersect with music in multiple ways outside of the established roles.”

The Flight said “Both the music and game industries can be very hard to break into, and the more we can do to help the new generation of composers who are interested in this line of work, the better."

Tori West said "I'm so happy to speak at CrossTalk. My journey began in Bristol after studying Fashion Communication at UWE. Studying there and also meeting the team at Bristol-based publication Crack Magazine is what inspired me to set up BRICKS Magazine. I can't wait to come back and hopefully inspire someone else to start up their own thing."

Emma Blake Morsi said “Crosstalk 2023, let's goooo! Proud to be hosting such a pivotal event that dismantles the barriers into and advancing within the creative sector. By allowing aspiring creatives and industry professionals alike to gain invaluable insight from some of their favourite industry movement-makers, thought-leaders and creative masterminds, are you ready to delve into the world of broadcasting, publishing, and cinematic gaming.”