When Covid gutted Conferences, Festivals and Exhibitions around the world, Hugh Forrest saw how a SHIFT to VIRTUAL would become a LIFELINE to Creatives and Presenters whose work enhances all our lives, from breakthroughs in technology, to film, culture and music. As Chief Programming Officer for South by Southwest (SXSW), Hugh oversees content for the SXSW Conference, Music and Film Festivals and SXSW EDU.
That’s RESILIENCE! Hugh has been with SXSW since the late 80s and has grown with it. He says their strategy for growth has been slow and steady, even though the creative industry can be disruptive. Their strength is strong technology to support creativity. SXSW not only benefits artists, but it also benefits a society that needs music and beauty and ideas and creativity to feed our souls and given us outlets for our mental and emotional health, AND it benefits that society financially, bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars and providing jobs behind the scenes.
Enjoy the conversation. More at SXSW at www.sxsw.com