Austin Downtown Arts Magazine

Visual Arts and Architecture

Interview with Hugh Forrest

by Meredith Wende

In 1994, the South by Southwest (SXSW) entertainment festival and conference included, for the first time, a festival designed for the new and rising world of web-related technology, the Interactive Media Festival. Since then, it has become a legendary gathering of creative minds, drawing attendees nation-wide to the streets of Austin. I spoke with Event Director Hugh Forrest about the Interactive Festival's role in SXSW.

Austin Downtown Arts (ADA): What is your role in the festival?

Hugh Forrest (HF): I am the event director for the interactive media festival. There are three wings of SXSW: music, film, and interactive media. I work with the panels that make up the big part of the interactive media festival.

ADA: What all is encapsulated in interactive media?

HF: I think we're still primarily focused on web related technology (like web design and web contexts) but we're beginning to branch into wireless technology. We are also beginning to focus on legal aspects like copyright laws. One of our panelists is an expert on cyber-law and how copyright laws play out on the internet. We like to think that we work with some of the internet's most creative people.

ADA: What are the different elements of the interactive media part?

HF: Our event runs March 7 - 11. Starting Saturday, March 8, we have four days of panels, about 65 total sessions, covering all aspects of interactive media. We've always termed it a festival as opposed to conference because there is a definite element of fun. Of course, it is an extraordinary time for attendees to network and to learn about new developments from the numerous panelists and keynote speakers, but I think that attendees enjoy the Austin atmosphere. SXSW is a lot of work but also a lot of fun.

ADA: What would it be like to attend this part of the conference?

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HF: Attendees can decide which of the various panels they want to attend. I think that is one of the great things about SXSW in general: it offers lots of different choices. If you don't like the speaker in one panel, you can poke your head next door for a couple of minutes. We also have afternoon keynote speeches on topics we think are especially important and web awards for the best web sites designed the previous year. The web award ceremony is always one of the highlights of the festival.

ADA: What can attendees expect to learn from this?

HF: What we're best at offering is a chance to meet and connect with other people in this industry. It's an opportunity to network, learn trade secrets, and recharge your creative juices. Honestly, it's a tough time for new industries, and I think this festival can help new and experienced people alike by re-inspiring them.

ADA: Is it targeted at any particular type of organization or is it supposed to be beneficial to everyone?

HF: I think we're pretty general. A lot of our attendees do IT and web-master work for companies, but we also have some freelance workers.

ADA: What specifically do you think a small, arts-based organization could get out of it?

HF: Interactive media definitely incorporates art. Many of these people consider themselves visual artists, bringing new ways of thinking to a relatively new medium. They are on the cutting edge of an innovative and quickly changing medium, and I think that is something arts organizations can tap in to. Also, they would have the same opportunities to network and gather ideas.

ADA: How does this relate to the overall theme of SXSW?

HF: The general theme of SXSW is not about dressing a certain way or designing a certain way, but being eccentric and making a living doing new and exciting things. Across the board, SXSW tries to uncover the newest talents and ideas, and I think the interactive media part completely upholds that ideal. We try to push the envelope in our medium.