Symposium Components

The Symposium on Creativity will offer a variety of session formats as detailed below.

Studio Sessions

Studio sessions – special hands-on workshops led by master craftspeople in Second Life – offer an opportunity to develop your skills in a particular area under the guidance of an expert mentor. Choose from Machinima, Fashion, Sculpture and Modeling, Virtual Photography, or Teaching Environments. As in a traditional studio class, you will receive a long-term assignment to be completed during the course of the Symposium. During each of five class meetings, you will learn a new skill or technique that may be applied to your final project, and you will have a chance to work on your project with your mentor there to answer questions as they arise. Each Studio course includes ten hours of instruction and supervised work time; additional time may be needed to complete your assignment.

Enrollment in Studio classes is limited to 20 people per topic and requires pre-registration. Those who register early for the Symposium will have the first opportunity to sign up for a Studio session.

Breakout Sessions

Breakout sessions are presented by your colleagues in Second Life-- each last for 90 minutes. Popular topics will be offered more than once so that people from around the world can all participate. Some 30 sessions will be offered within tracks devoted to Hands-On Creative Experiences, Scripting, Demonstrations, and Notions of Creativity.

Learning Exposition

The Learning Exposition sits at the center of the NMC Conference Center, and is intended to be the centerpiece of the island. This is the spot where receptions and other social events will be held, and attendees are encouraged to gather, browse the exhibits, and visit with the exhibitors.

"Parade of Sims" Showcase

These tours, led by the NMC Virtual Worlds builders who created the sims featured, will provide a "behind-the-scenes" perspective on how to approach large-scale design in Second Life. Meet highly-regarded Second Life builders and artists like CJ Carnot, Stella Costello, Shukran Fahid, and Ravenelle Zugzwang!

Social and Arts Events

Learning with a twist! What would Second Life be without the social aspects! Included as central parts of the Symposium are a Gala Opening Reception, performances by Chronic Skronski and the ZeroG Skydancers -- and two special art exhibtions, an installation by DanCoyote Antonelli, and an exhibition of interactive art, each filling and entire sim!