Diary of an Emergence Festival Groupie, Day 2. By Lucy Belbin

Lucy Belbin’s day 2 Emergence Festival dairy. Woah… Day 2 of Emergence was such a thrill ride for me!

We were told that we’d be locked into the main theatre at the Heart at 9:30am. So, I had a bit of a sleep-in and rocked up at 9.26… but Josh was already speaking to a packed house by then (which fully made me feel like a naughty school girl when I sneaked into the back row!).

We soon launched into a session which was an experience you’d only ever get at Emergence – but also kinda hard to explain in words.

“Senscapes: Immersive art from Neuroscience” with neuroscientist Joe Barnby, took us on a communal mushie trip. What the actual fuck! So let’s all be honest, this is my kinda morning. Especially for a Thursday, which is basically already the weekend down here… Joe’s video, which translates brain data into a psychedelic experience was weird, but also, seriously mind-blowing.

My favourite question from the audience though, was Josh Edge (who today had swapped his Jesus sandals for Nike Airs). He hit up Joe with the one burning question we were all thinking: “What happens when you watch someone tripping, while you’re tripping?”….Phwoooooar!

We then jumped into “Can I wing it? Global Perspectives from the Creative Industry which was speaking to a panel of Fashion and Luxury brand creatives.

Grace Lam, Fashion Director, totally stole the show. Seriously, Grace, can we please be friends?

Her take – “You can wing it if you like what you’re doing” – and her ‘don’t be a dick’ advice, was honest, raw and very, very funny. She’s also totally obsessed with F1.

And with Jennifer Halton’s Lightning Questions game, which I must say I haven’t seen on a panel before, was silly fun but gave us real insight into the panellists’ personalities.

At morning tea, I soon realised that it’s not just me who wants to be BFFs with Grace. Her husband, Jason Capobianco, is very bloody cool too.

Next was Nic Brunsdon, who presented with his tiny toddler daughter, literally on his hip. Something you’d only ever see at Emergence!

Before lunch, there was an emotional moment as Jon Ricciardone took the stage to thank the speakers and sponsors, sharing the journey of the Creative Corner since Covid. His words painted a vivid picture of the arduous path to rebuild what was once lost. But thanks to the support of sponsors and partners in 2024, they’re finally back on track, and have been able to bring back this amazing festival!!

In the afternoon, the Colab sessions turned into a smorgasbord of stories. And I learnt a thing or two about gaming too! Turns out it’s more than just battles and shootings – you can also do gardening, cooking, and go on existential adventures. My mind has oficially changed!

Finally, we went on a little road trip to Ellensbrook house where we crashed a filmmaking Colab (‘Capturing Stories and Creative Content’). Richard Todd and Ryan Vergone hosted this workshop, where they were given a brief to make a 15” TVC on their phones to help promote Ellensbrook house and area. The best bit for me was watching my work-mate, Noah scramble up a tree to capture footage of Wilba (from Heckler) getting showered in pine needles, all while filming the slow-mo descent from a bird’s-eye view.

I have to say that I am so grateful to have been able to work on the Creative Glue Podcast, because it’s given me the chance to get a broader picture of Emergence. To experience snippets of the Colabs and to interview so many inspiring, interesting, and crazy people. I’m a pretty chatty person, but I haven’t experienced an Emergence in this way before. I’ve met and made new friends and connections from all over. And the moments off the clock, blending with the festival’s buzz, have been unexpectedly enriching.

This festival just keeps giving. I’m exhausted, but already pumped for the next. If you want to hear more about it, tune into our Creative Glue Podcast wrap-ups. Links to yesterday’s are below, and a full festival wrap will drop early next week.

PS – Josh Kruerger told me he wanted more pics… Emergence Festival is powered by Creative Corner.

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Apple Podcasts: Tune in here