Emergence Creative 2015: A rich experience laden with live music, performance + visual art

Beth Caniglia (left), manager of the Joondalup coworking space, sixty27, was a first time delegate to the recent Emergence Creative 2015 in Margaret River. Here’s her overview of what proved to be incredibly rich experience laden with live music, performance and visual art.

I have Emerged from Emergence Creative 2015 – unscathed? Mostly. Hung over? Definitely. Inspired? Enlightened? Enthralled? All of the above! The talent, the ideas, the people, the food, the wine (oh, the wine!).

As a first timer at what was repeatedly referred to throughout as the ‘anti-conference’, I was armed with a series of expectations from friends and colleagues alike for. Against the stunning backdrop of Margaret River, these ranged from rumours of debauchery, to tales of tech talks and scenes of impressive artistry in all its forms. The reality of the festival was all this and much more, an incredibly rich experience laden with live music, performance and visual art, which were a beautiful accompaniment to the array of keynote presentations and workshops that covered topics from digital disruption to storytelling – the admitted ‘buzzword’ for the festival. It was an apt description for all of the speakers, who told us their stories and their ideas about ‘Connection through Creativity’, the theme running across the 4 days.

On Day 1, Lee Hunter, Head of Marketing and Innovation for Google Asia Pacific (left) weaved an intriguing narrative around a series of moving case studies, highlighting the creative challenges facing a company built by engineers. He encouraged us to strive for innovation with his gentle but firm assessment that our Australian culture still has a long way to go in accepting and rewarding innovative practices and the failure that often comes with them. As someone working around the tech start-up scene in Perth, the truth of this comment hit home.

SuzAnn Brantner, Owner and Principal at The Family Business gave a fascinating overview of the music industry and its changing face, giving the (occasional) songwriter in me hope that big corporates don’t own the industry as they once did and inspiration to continue exploring the advances that digital technology now offers which are creating more opportunity than ever for independent artists.

On Day 2 the surprise gem that was Kylie Robertson, Head of Creative, Digital & Emerging Products at Penguin Books Australia, gave us an amazing insight into how an age old industry is utilizing digital technology in fascinating ways to continue telling stories across the media spectrum to remain relevant and interesting.

The real joy of Emergence for me though, was the meeting of minds. Cultured collaboration, networking and learning was the goal for everyone there and it made the 4 days a joy to endure – and endured they were for those of us who continued to enjoy each other’s company in the finest pubs and wineries the South West had to offer, long after closing time each night!

Separate to the education and insight that Emergence offered on a professional level, the entire festival was full of mind-blowing talent and a heap of plain old fun.

The opening night at Leeuwin Estate set an impeccable standard and included a participatory drum circle (led by three energetic, long-haired lads), a freestyle rap battle (MC Silvertongue was particularly entertaining) and a ‘Secret Walls’ live art battle (eight artists, two teams, two giant canvases and 90 minutes to create a piece of artwork).

This night also marked the first ride on the now infamous ‘Chauffer Bus’. This black, double decker antiquity tried it’s very best to drive us up the hill out of Leeuwin and back to town, only to come to rattling halt halfway up. After rolling backwards for a few minutes and a second attempt to climb the mighty knoll, an executive decision was made: a cry of ‘everybody, out!’ emptied the bus and we marched ourselves out and up, to meet our chauffer atop the great ascent.

The good nature and raucous joking involved, made it all the more enjoyable, and the party continued at El Rio’s Mexican bar in town. Tequila was the drink of choice and I may have lost my reading glasses that night…

At the other end of the festival, on the closing night, Dallas Royal and various DJ’s wowed us in the Driftwood Estate Amphitheatre and the avid festival-goers managed to defy all catering expectations, emptying the food van and then the bar in quick succession. The atmosphere was truly amazing, the majority of the crowd dancing the entire night in front of a gorgeous wall of lights.

These moments, and many more formed my first Emergence experience. I have Emerged grateful to have been a part of it, to have met so many lovely and talented people and to have learnt so much.

In summary – five out of five stars. Would recommend. Would NOT recommend excessive tequila however – it can be dangerous to you and your reading glasses.