During the year of Tallinn as European Capital of Culture, we will discuss how culture and creativity can help to expand the profile of a country worldwide to support tourism and export. In cooperation with the British Council and Nordic Council of Ministers, a public panel discussion will be held in Rotermanni Centre on 24 March 2011. As part of the „Creative Hotspots“ conference, leaders of previous European Capitals of Culture Liverpool and Essen will join a discussion about the phenomenon and effectiveness of the Capital of Culture. The panel will be joined by Elena Natale – manager of international marketing at Tallinn 2011 and Cay Sevon - CEO of Turku 2011.

The topic will be more profoundly discussed at the opening session of TMW on Friday; where the relation of creative industry and the image and turnover of a country will be the topic with music heads of export organizations such as Anna Hildur Hildibrandsdottir from Iceland and Paulina Ahokas from Finland. Ahokas was recently awarded an order of merit by the president of Finland Tarja Halonen. The panel will also be joined by board member of European Music Council, the initiator of European talent exchange programme, and founder of Eurosonic and Amsterdam Dance Event, Peter Smidt. The chairman of Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association and director of Nordic Hotel Forum, Feliks Mägus, will explore the topic of the connection between Estonian cultural events and tourism. The panel will be moderated by the director of Cologne based creative industries conference C’n’B Networks and C/O Pop festival, Ralph Christoph.
 
Renowned British visual artists Jane Pollard and Iain Forsyth will make a special presentation discussing how the digital revolution has changed people’s consumption habits of music, film, TV, literature and art. Pollard and Forsyth have organized innovative digital media campaigns for artists like Thom Yorke, Nick Cave and worked with Tindersticks, Gil Scott-Heron and many others.

The star act of the conference is Petri Lunden, one of Europe’s most influential managers in charge of world famous bands like Cardigans, Europe and Ace of Base. He is also the founder of one of the largest digital marketing platforms, Phonofile. Lunden will give a public one-hour interview and lead the panel presentation about being an artist’s manager. The discussion will be joined by one of Finland’s most influential managers, Virpi Immonen, who has lead the career of legendary glam rock band, Hanoi Rocks. Immonen is also involved in promoting the progerock band, Von Hertzen Brothers.

Saturday the 25th of March will focus on practical issues – leaders of organizations devoted to artist’s careers and development from Canada, Finland, Hungary and Netherlands will discuss the opportunities of supporting musicians and music businesses effectively. The success stories of Estonian music will be highlighted with representatives of Metsatöll, Talbot, Pastacas, Svjata Vatra, Iiris, and Rulers of the Deep. The afternoon will conclude with a panel discussing intellectual property of authors and performers joined by Estonian Authors Association and Estonian Phonogram Producers Association.

The aim of Tallinn Music Week Conference is to boost creative and music industries and export through valuable contacts and open discussions. Everyone interested in these issues are welcome to participate. To participate in the conference, please purchase a delegate’s pass at 120 EUR. The delegate’s pass will also grant entry to Tallinn Music Week festival, featuring nearly 150 artists from around the world on 24-26 March. More information about performers, program and registered delegates and more can be found on www.tallinnmusciweek.ee

Seminar program: http://www.tallinnmusicweek.ee/seminar.php

Additional information about the panels:
Helen Sildna: helen@tallinnmusicweek.ee