by Tommy

posted in Events & Social

Reflections on REMIX Summit London 2025

 

This week, our team attended REMIX Summit London 2025—a conference designed to inspire and challenge the mind with an eclectic mix of speakers sharing insights into their projects, dreams, and impact.

The format was well-structured, with 34 speakers delivering concise 15-minute talks. This approach allowed attendees to absorb a wide range of ideas and decide whether to engage in more intimate, informal Q&A sessions afterward. The summit explored the convergence of disciplines, immersive experiences, and, above all, audience engagement. A strong theme throughout was how technology is being used to transform art, actively involving audiences and creating adaptable, inclusive spaces.

Key Takeaways from Our Team

 

Ben

One of the early talks introduced compelling statistics about the economic impact of cultural participation. Kinka Studios, specialists in translating science into felt experiences, highlighted how culture can generate cost savings for the NHS.

  • People over 50 who engage in culture regularly save the NHS an average of £183 per person per year, equating to £800m in savings.
  • Young people with weekly cultural participation contribute to £743 per person in NHS savings, amounting to a £750m social benefit.

Assigning tangible value to culture and the arts is often difficult, but these figures reinforce their long-term economic benefits. Access to the arts should not be a privilege—it must be widely available. Colchester is fortunate to have multiple NPOs providing free cultural programmes, such as Firstsite’s Holiday Fun activities and The Minories Gallery’s exhibitions and community events. Over time, I believe we will see increased investment in the arts as their benefits—both cultural and economic—become more widely recognised.

 

Sofia

Google Arts & Culture continues to break barriers, making art more accessible while preserving heritage and experimenting with emerging technologies. Some standout projects include:

  • Ukraine is Here: Next Chapter – Celebrating the people, places, and treasures that shape Ukrainian culture. Learn more
  • National Gallery Mixtape – A tool that generates music based on the colours, composition, and emotions of your favourite artworks. See for yourself
  • Pollinator Pathmaker – A project encouraging biodiversity by designing gardens that support pollinators. pollinator.art

These initiatives showcase the potential of technology to enhance engagement with art and culture in meaningful ways.

 

Artem

Attending REMIX Summit was a refreshing experience, packed with groundbreaking ideas and inspiring discussions. I was particularly captivated by:

  • Megan Wastell’s insights on experience design at Merlin Entertainments.
  • The National Gallery’s exploration of audience interactions and how they create meaningful engagement.
  • Manchester Museum’s vision for inclusivity, demonstrating how the cultural sector is evolving in dynamic and thoughtful ways.
  • The intersection of AI and artistic practice, alongside ambitious developments in immersive storytelling, left me eager to explore new creative possibilities.

 

Tommy

Esme Ward, Director of Manchester Museum, completely changed my perception of what a museum could be. Traditionally, I saw museums as static institutions, but she highlighted the evolving role they play in society:

  • Welcoming spaces with well-designed picnic areas to remove stigma around bringing your own food.
  • Cultural responsibility, returning artefacts to their countries of origin rather than holding on to items that belong elsewhere.
  • Community-building initiatives, such as tackling Islamophobia through inclusive events.
  • Conservation efforts, like the chance to sponsor a frog to help protect amphibians in Santa Fe National Park (Sponsor a Frog).

 

Final Thoughts

With 74 speakers over two days, the summit was packed with insights, yet the 15-minute talk format worked remarkably well. Unlike other conferences, where overlapping talks force difficult choices, REMIX kept things relaxed by scheduling one speaker at a time. Attendees could also choose to follow up with speakers for deeper discussions.

If you’re interested in diverse creative disciplines and open to new ideas, REMIX Summit is well worth attending—just be sure to have a solid breakfast and plan your lunch.

Overarching Themes

  • Immersive experiences
  • Community & Inclusivity
  • Wellbeing through culture
  • Collaboration & Technology 

This year’s summit reinforced how creativity, innovation, and cultural engagement are evolving—and the power they have to shape our world for the better.