News / BTF+
New festival brings together tech, creativity and culture
A major new festival celebrating Bristol’s technology, creativity and culture is currently underway across multiple city venues.
BTF+, making its debut, replaces its long-running predecessor, the Bristol Technology Festival, which ran for six years.
The reimagined event represents a major step up in scale and ambition, expanding from 58 events last year to 169 this year across venues around the city.
Organised by Bristol-based not-for-profit techSPARK, BTF+ runs from October 6 to 11 across the Old City and other key locations including Bristol Beacon, St George’s, The Old Vic and Temple Studios, near the historic offices of the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
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Among the festival’s many highlights is Helios by Luke Jerram, a glowing solar installation on display at Bristol Cathedral that brings together art, science and technology.
The six-day programme features talks, workshops, performances and tech showcases involving local, national and international talent.
Among the notable contributors was Sam Oliver, former creative director at Apple, who explored what it takes to succeed at some of the world’s most innovative companies.
Among the notable contributors was Sam Oliver, former creative director at Apple – photo: Milan Perera
During a session at Temple Studios, Oliver emphasised the need for tech and creative businesses to “stay uncomfortable,” take risks, and “avoid the temptation of putting the brakes on while steaming ahead,” traits he described as hallmarks of constantly evolving innovators such as Apple.
Nick Sturge, tech entrepreneur and member of the West of England Combined Authority’s business advisory board, said: “We’ve had some incredible speakers so far. We just heard from Sam Oliver, the former global head of design for Apple products, and now he’s living right here in Bristol, which really shows the kind of talent and energy this city attracts.
“It’s been hugely exciting. Last night, I saw Luke Jerram’s Helios installation glowing inside the cathedral during the high sheriff’s legal service, it was stunning.
“Next, I’m heading to a panel discussion with local, national and international voices on how to grow beyond Silicon Valley. And that’s what Bristol represents, we’ve got the creativity, the tech, the talent and even our own golden bridge.”
Temple Studios is one of several venues BTF+ is hosted – photo: Milan Perera
Organisers say BTF+ aims to bring together founders, creatives, technologists and investors to share ideas, explore new trends and connect with potential partners. Around 40 organisations are reported to be involved in the inaugural edition.
Designed to be inclusive and accessible, the festival offers a mix of free and low-cost events, with all profits reinvested into supporting local start-ups and creative talent.
Ben Shorrock, co-founder of BTF+, said the event, inspired by global showcases like South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, aims to strengthen Bristol and the wider South West’s reputation as a “leading centre for innovation and collaboration”.
He described the festival as “the collision of technology, creativity and culture in a place that excels at all three,” providing a platform for fresh ideas and new connections.
Speaking to Bristol24/7, Shorrock said: “The idea behind the festival is to make it open, accessible and genuinely citywide. This year, thousands of people are attending, many from our core tech community, but also from creative industries and other sectors.
“We’ve been working with partners like Bristol Creative Industries, the Combined Authority and MyWorld to reach wider audiences.
“Of the 169 events taking place, the vast majority are free and open to everyone. We really want people to get involved.
“We’ve also been doing things differently, for example, yesterday we hosted around 70 teachers from local schools to explore how young people can get more involved in the tech sector and understand the opportunities it offers.”
” We’ve got the creativity, the tech, the talent and even our own golden bridge,” said Nick Sturge, entrepreneur and member of West of England Combined Authority’s business advisory board
Shorrock also commented on the growing impact of AI, especially following the opening of the UK’s fastest supercomputer, Isambard-AI, in July. He said that while many businesses and creative organisations are already embracing AI, many others are still hesitant to explore its potential.
He said: “Here in Bristol, there are several businesses working at the forefront of AI, from companies like Graphcore, which develops advanced chips, to Isambard-AI, home to the UK’s fastest supercomputer.
“Beyond that, we’re seeing many organisations exploring how to adopt AI in meaningful ways, using it to make work more efficient and enjoyable, not to replace people.
“For instance, I spoke to an animation company last night that’s using AI to automate repetitive tasks, like colouring frames, freeing up animators to focus on creativity instead of repetition.
“This week we’re also launching a new programme with Business West called Tech for Growth, aimed at helping non-tech businesses embrace digital tools, from AI to customer management and accounting systems. It’s about making technology accessible and useful for everyone, across all sectors.”
“It’s designed to bring the tech, creative and cultural sectors together,” said Tom Harber, board director of Bristol Creative Industries – photo: Milan Perera
Representing the creative industries, Tom Harber, chief executive at Aer Studios and board director of Bristol Creative Industries, expressed optimism for the city’s future.
He said: “We realised festivals like South by Southwest should have a home in the South West, so we created our own, BTF+. It’s designed to bring the tech, creative and cultural sectors together, and this week has already shown the power of uniting those communities.”
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Other notable sessions include talks by TechCrunch editor-at-large Mike Butcher, Olio co-founder Tessa Clarke, Graphcore chief executive Nigel Toon and West of England mayor Helen Godwin, alongside events exploring AI, creativity, sustainability and leadership.
For more information, visit www.techspark.co/btfplus
Main photo: Julian Preece
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