Banff, Alberta, May 2, 2011 -- Mark Resch, appointed to The Banff Centre’s newly created role of director of Digital Media Research, brings together a wide range of stakeholders in technology, business, and culture, hosting the Alberta Digital Media Summit at the Centre May 8 to 10. The Summit, for regional, national, and international decision-makers, will develop the first draft of a strategic plan for digital media in Alberta through 2020.
"I’m excited to be taking on this dynamic new role at The Banff Centre and look forward to building and bridging networks at the upcoming summit,” Resch says. The Summit will outline a clear set of multidisciplinary digital media opportunities for entrepreneurs, content creators, and infrastructure developers, in entertainment, education, and storytelling on digital platforms. The event will also help solidify a network of collaborators across the province, and bring in new partners.
As director of Digital Media Research at The Banff Centre, Resch will secure external research funding, develop and nurture external partnerships, and oversee the Centre’s existing research infrastructure in digital media. He’ll oversee existing labs, including the Centre’s collaboration and visualization labs (funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation) and outline a vision for future research infrastructure and programs. His work will engage partners including practicing artists, university researchers, and creative-industry colleagues, in collaborative projects, including dedicated research programs, co-productions, workshops, conferences, and summits.
Arriving in Banff from the San Francisco area, Resch’s background encompasses work as an artist, teacher, technologist, executive and start-up founder. Former assistant professor in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Resch is co-founder of Onomy Labs, and former president and CEO of CommerceNet, a non-profit think tank that brings together stakeholders in systems for electronic commercial transactions. Originally from Chicago, he has a BA in history from Grinnell College and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
"The Silicon Valley has long been known as a hotbed of creative ferment, and we are very excited to connect Mark Resch and his long time experience in the Bay area with the diverse network of creative producers, artists and researchers at The Banff Centre,” says Kerry Stauffer, executive director of Film & Media at The Banff Centre.
Digital Media is part of the Film & Media department at The Banff Centre, which encompasses creative work in film and video, new media, audio, and media research, and produces the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. Programming includes film and new media residency programs, creative training and workshops, and self-directed creative residency opportunities.
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About The Banff Centre: The Banff Centre’s mission is inspiring creativity. Thousands of artists, leaders and researchers from across Canada and around the world participate in programs here every year. Through its multi-disciplinary programming, The Banff Centre provides them with the support they need to create, to develop solutions, and to make the impossible possible.