HUB Montreal is a showcase for local digital creativity

2023-10-07 08:06:01

This text is part of the special Hub Montréal notebook

This year, it’s on the theme Circulation(s): catalyze innovation that local companies and international players looking for cutting-edge digital solutions will meet during the 7^eedition of Hub Montreal.

Montreal is very well seen internationally from the point of view of digital creativity, immediately assures Rachel Parent, director of programming at Hub Montreal. This enviable reputation allows the organizers to count on the presence of big international names like Walt Disney, BBC Studios, Universal and several renowned brands and museums such as Calvin Klein, Holt Renfrew, the Musée d’Orsay, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco or Meet Milan. They are looking for immersive solutions and new interactive experiences. And it is towards Montreal that these potential buyers are turning to innovate.

This major annual meeting of creative ecosystems such as music, video games, multimedia, various realities, visual effects, film and more generally technocreativity in culture and entertainment is therefore the perfect opportunity to export Montreal expertise and knowledge.

Among this year’s new features, in addition to numerous networking activities, daring panels and expert conferences, the Hub Montréal team wishes to take advantage of the fact that 700 people are gathered, including more than 130 foreign guests, to offer more collaborative activities. The organization, whose mission is to promote local creative businesses on an international scale, wants to spark conversation and exchange: “We are thinking of strategic workshops, or even market workshops with a economic and cultural emphasis,” explains Rachel Parent.

A little history

The first edition of Hub Montreal took place in 2017, as part of the 375^e anniversary of the metropolis. After two years virtually, with all the challenges that this represents for a market event, the 2022 edition was the consecration for the organization: “We were one of the first major events [après la reprise des activités en personne] and we had a record number of international buyers,” recalls Pierre Bellerose, interim general manager. This edition was also marked by the arrival of Hub Montréal at the Oasis Immersion space, an avant-garde venue located in the Palais des congrès de Montréal building. “For presenting visual and immersive experiences, it’s ideal. At Oasis, all surfaces [murs, plafonds et planchers] are exhibition surfaces,” continues Pierre Bellerose.

Hub Montreal is on a roll with marked growth in buyers and participants. The market event will remain niche and intended for industry professionals in the coming years: “It is the asset that differentiates us from other creativity events in Montreal and it is our DNA: to be an accelerator for local and international business development,” adds Rachel Parent.

However, certain aspects of the event, such as the tour through the city as well as the Demo space, could become general public in order to bring the best of digital creativity to Montrealers. “The democratization of digital creativity is a subject that is close to our hearts and which we wish to encourage through these aspects in the years to follow,” concludes the project manager.

This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.