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  • Brains, Gains, and Great Explains! Eli5 Returns and We’re All Biz!!

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    Audience members lean in as Deirdre Morrisson uses knitted neuron props to illustrate brain function at ELI5.

    Wanna recap one of the best events we’ve run recently? Our ELI5 event was a hit—we SOLD OUT! And it’s not hard to see why. For those who aren’t in the know, Explain Like I’m 5 is our classic lightning talk series from pre-pandemic times. Speakers have just seven minutes to break down a complex topic for a lay audience, with no slides allowed! This might sound tough, but trust me, our incredible lineup of speakers took up the challenge with gusto.

    What Is ELI5?

    Our ELI5 events are designed to take high-level, often technical or niche concepts and make them understandable for anyone. This round, we skipped a theme, making it a bit of an intellectual free-for-all. The result was a room full of fun learning and a cheering audience by the end of the night!

    Meet the Speakers

    Callum Janes – The Art of SEO

    We kicked things off with Callum Janes (hey, that’s me!), a content guru (oh stop) who’s rubbed digital elbows with the likes of BBC and WatchMojo, and he dove into the nitty-gritty of SEO. Callum broke down website optimization for us mere mortals, covering all those sneaky algorithms and search trends and making them sound almost, dare I say it, easy! (it’s not)

    Kenny Pollin, Strength Coach – The Truth About “Toning”

    Next was Kenny Pollin, a Northern Ireland powerlifting record-holder and Belfast strength coach / personal trainer! He demolished myths about “toning” and told the truth about building muscle and shedding pounds. Who knew gym talk could be so captivating?

    Deirdre Morrisson demonstrating how neurons work with a captivated crowd at Farset Labs’ ELI5 event

    Deirdre Morrisson – Knitted Neurons and Brain Science

    Things took a delightfully nerdy twist with Deirdre Morrisson, who brought some tactile brain science. Picture this: a neuroscience demo with knitted props that made neurons seem like friendly little yarn critters. Everyone in the room was leaning in, hanging on every “stitch” of her explanation.

    Grant Colgan – The Crowdstrike Crash

    Grant Colgan walked us through the Crowdstrike crash, which was incredibly topical and engaging!! Who knew cybersecurity could keep you on the edge of your seat?

    Martin Gilchrist – Changing the World, One Event at a Time

    And if that wasn’t enough, Martin Gilchrist of Gilchrist Accounting shared how he wanted to change the world! Creating events that foster change for the individual is seriously inspiring stuff!

    Martin Gilchrist shares his vision for impactful community events, engaging the audience at ELI5.

    Shout-Out to Our Sponsor!

    The event was sponsored by Martin Naughton of Galvia Digital (a Belfast custom software development company). He’s been a steadfast supporter of ELI5 since its revival. Huge shout-out to Martin for helping us keep this community-powered event series alive and thriving!

    Overall, the vibe at Farset Labs was one of curiosity mixed with a hefty dose of camaraderie. Artists, tech enthusiasts and everyone in between gathered, and ELI5 made learning feel like a party.

    If you missed out, the only thing to do is ensure you get the next one! Be sure to follow our Meetup page to stay in the loop. After all, there’s a whole community of brilliant folks here, and we’re just getting started.

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  • Return of the Mavericks: Farset Labs Strikes Back

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    Hello, Farset Friends! 🌟

    It’s been a hot minute, hasn’t it? You might’ve noticed this blog’s been a tad quiet. That’s because our previous updates were mainly driven by our old director and co-founder, Andrew Bolster.

    Don’t worry, nothing happened, he just escaped the workshop we had him locked in 🤣

    Farset Labs has been humming along, still providing a haven for the makers, hackers, and mavericks of Belfast. Yet, we’ve kind of stayed under the radar—a hidden gem, if you will. But hey, that’s about to change!

    I’m Callum, one of the new non-executive managers here at Farset. I’ve been hanging around Farset since 2015, hot desk here full-time and now I’ve jumped on the new wave hitting Farset!

    A Tribute to Farset Labs 🛠️

    Before diving into the latest and greatest, I want to take a moment to voice my appreciation for Farset Labs. It’s a place where nerds, hobbyists, and people with niche interests—whether technological or artistic—can meet like-minded enthusiasts. The energy here is contagious and pushes you out of your comfort zone to pursue your passions. Being part of this community has been a constant source of inspiration for me.

    What’s Been Happening? 📅

    Alright, let’s get to the juicy bits. What’s the state of affairs at Farset Labs, and what’s on the horizon?

    In case you missed it, we’ve been making some epic upgrades around here! We’ve got shiny new furniture donations and exciting projects in the pipeline, and our workshop has constant activity with people using our 3D printers, laser cutters, and other fabrication/maker tools!

    New Membership Tiers:
    We’ve expanded our membership options! 🎉 Besides the classic maker membership, we now offer professional memberships for those who want to work remotely, hold meetings, and use the space regularly. There’s also a new tier that includes desk rental and storage for those needing a more permanent setup. This has really helped folks kickstart their projects and prototypes. 🚀

    You can find these new membership tiers on our website home page! – https://www.farsetlabs.org.uk/

    Beloved Events Are Back:
    Some of our favourite events are making a grand comeback! We’re talking Explain Like I’m Five (ELI5), Sketchy Individuals, Hack Nights, Maker Nights, educational talks, project nights, board game nights, and much more!

    Farset has also taken in a brand new group you NEED to know about; Hacker Battle Bots! You could say that Mini-Robot Wars has come to Belfast! There’s plenty of gatherings and activities to sink your teeth into!

    Check out our Google Calender to see what events are coming up, and RSVP on Meetup! – https://www.meetup.com/farsetlabs/

    Growing Stronger Every Day 💪

    Despite the challenges of the pandemic, our membership is on the rise! We’ve got regular user groups using the space and have partnered with other local organizations for events and projects. Our amazing members have been pivotal in upgrading the space, working on projects, and giving the attention this space deserves. It’s truly heartwarming to see the Farset family grow and thrive. 🌱

    Looking Ahead 🔮

    Looking to the future, we’re ramping up efforts to amplify what Farset Labs has been doing. Not only are we trying to bring more people to the space, but also give opportunities for old alumni to return!

    While being a hidden gem has its charm, it’s more satisfying when more people discover it! We want to share the magic of Farset with a wider audience and continue achieving our charitable aims. Expect more updates, more events, and more opportunities to get involved.

    Stay tuned, folks! The best is yet to come. 🚀✨

    Catch you later,
    Callum

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  • Ten Years On: Farset Labs’ 10th Birthday Maker Day / Party

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    Yes, the beers can be drank from the box while the beers are in the box, as is tradition

    We’re Turning 10!

    Farset Labs was opened to the Belfast Maker Community in April 2012. Over the past decade, we’ve made a lot, broken a lot, grown a lot and learned… hopefully something.

    Come join us on Saturday the 9th of April for an afternoon and evening of making and celebration, kicking off with an Open ‘Maker Day’ from 1pm to 6pm, and the main celebration, which will kick off from 7pm, and will include drinks, refreshments, and memories.

    If you haven’t been back in Farset Labs for a while (particularly since the renovations…), this is the perfect re-introduction to Northern Ireland’s Makerspace.

    Also, if you’re a past or a ‘long time’ member, nows a great time to check out our new Membership Management Platform (Nexudus) that was rolled out over the pandemic!

    Links

    Maker DayBirthday Party
    Facebook EventFacebook Event
    Meetup EventMeetup Event
    Nexudus EventNexudus Event

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  • Global Game Jam Belfast on 21st-23rd January

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    What’s Global Game Jam?

    Global Game Jam is a worldwide event focused on creating games; from fully interactive video-games, to board games and card games. Some of the games are created for charitable causes, such as Games For Change. The global event involves a number of large industry sponsors, including PayPal, Unity, Sony Interactive, Microsoft, and it often acts as a stepping stone for new games developers.

    Farset Labs Hackerspace and NI Game Dev Network have teamed up with the to coordinate a Northern Ireland site of Global Game Jam, streamed online with the option for teams to meet in the space.

    Starting with a live-streamed kickoff event at 7pm on Friday 21st January, the jam will run from until Sunday 23rd January, and is a brilliant chance to virtually meet and collaborate with people from the local games industry while making interesting games and experiences in a weekend.

    How do I sign up?

    You can sign up take part online, or optionally, get together in person at Farset Labs Hackerspace with your team.

    It’s easy as 1, 2, 3!

    1. Sign up to take part
    2. Join the chat on Discord
    3. Optionally, book a desk at Farset Labs Hackerspace

    There is no required skill level to take part – programmers, artists, musicians and enthusiasts are all welcome.

    In 2020, Farset Labs Hackerspace hosted over 50 aspiring games designers developing more than a dozen games in the 48 hour period.

    What happens during Global Game Jam?

    Every year, a theme is announced at the start of Global Game Jam.

    Our theme for 2022 will be announced on Wednesday 19 January, and previous years have seen amateurs and professionals from all over Northern Ireland come to create thought-provoking projects, and have fun while doing it. The first Global Game Jam was run in 2009, and this year there are already over 500 individual sites registered around the world. Farset Labs will be broadcasting live from Belfast throughout the event, as well as sharing feeds from Jam sites world-wide.

    Belfast based charity Farset Labs Hackerspace, has hosted Northern Ireland’s only public site of the international Global Game Jam hackathon for the past 9 years, and this year they’re bringing it back in partnership with NI Game Dev Network.

    Contact

    You’ve got a couple of ways to reach us for more information.

    Location

    You can take a virtual tour of Farset Labs Hackerspace to check out the location before booking a desk.

    Address

    Farset Labs, Unit 1, Weavers Court Business Park, Linfield Road, Belfast BT12 5GH

    Global Game Jam

    Global Game Jam is an annual event taking place every January, started in 2009, that brings together talented individuals from across the community. It is a unique opportunity for people to push their skills and challenge their way of working while making games. Participants work concurrently with other developers around the globe; rallying around a central theme, with 48 hours to create a game or prototype.

    https://www.globalgamejam.org

    Farset Labs Hackerspace

    Farset Labs Hackerspace is a community funded and volunteer operated educational charity, opened in 2012 as a place for creativity and technological tinkering. It is a shared facility for creative and technological experimentation and co-working, as well as a popular event venue. The facility is open to anyone interested in tinkering and welcomes people from all walks of life to use its space, attend events, and get involved with the maker community in Northern Ireland.

    Farset Labs is a Registered Charity (NIC102754) and a non-profit Private Limited Company (NI611278), based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

    https://www.farsetlabs.org.uk

    NI Game Dev Network

    NI Game Dev Network is the community for everyone interested in making games in Northern Ireland, from accomplished studio heads to students just getting started in the industry. We facilitate regular events and networking opportunities, and aim to help businesses here in NI collaborate for collective benefit.

    https://nigame.dev/

    Media Assets

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  • Global Game Jam | 29th – 31st Jan 2021

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    Joint post with the NI Game Dev Network

    Farset Labs has hosted Northern Ireland’s only public site of the international “Global Game Jam” hackathon for the past 8 years, and this year they’re bringing it back – again – virtually. 

    In the face of ‘unprecedented times‘, while the space, events facilities, co-working facilities and new-and-improved workshop (and Laser Cutter…) are still available to socially-distanced members, this year we can’t offer the usual warm, pizza and burrito fueled welcome we have over nearly the past decade to Northern Ireland’s Games Development community.

    So, we have teamed up with our friends at the NI Game Dev Network to coordinate the Northern Ireland site of GGJ online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting with a live-streamed kickoff event at 7pm on Friday 29th January, the jam will run from until Sunday 31st January, and is a brilliant chance to virtually meet and collaborate with people from the local games industry while making interesting games and experiences in a weekend. 

    There is no required skill level to take part – programmers, artists, musicians and enthusiasts are all welcome.

    Global Game Jam is a worldwide weekend focused on creating games; from fully interactive video-games, to board games and card games. Some of the games are created for charitable causes, such as “Games For Change”. The global event involves a number of large industry sponsors, including PayPal, Unity, Sony Interactive, Microsoft, and it often acts as a stepping stone for new games developers.

    In the before times, Farset Labs hosted over 50 aspiring games designers developing more than a dozen games in the 48 hour period

    The theme will be announced on Wednesday 27 January, and previous years have seen amateurs and professionals from all over Northern Ireland come to create thought-provoking projects, and have fun while doing it.

    The first Global Game Jam was run in 2009, and this year there are already over 500 individual Jam sites registered around the world for 2019.

    Farset Labs and the NIGDN will be broadcasting live from our Belfast facility throughout the 48hour event (with over-night special guests to burn the midnight oil!), as well as sharing feeds from Jam sites world-wide.

    How to get involved

    As a Sponsor

    • Contact ggj@farsetlabs.org.uk if you’d like to support spot prizes or otherwise sponsor this grassroots event
    FSLGGJ21-Press-Release.pdfDownload
    FSLGGJ21-Press-Release.docxDownload

    As a Jammer

    Jammers will be notified of next steps!

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  • COVID19: Phased Reopening from Tomorrow (24th June)

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    Summary

    • In light of current HMG and NI Executive Guidance, and in accordance to our communicated staging plans, we’ve decided to begin a phased return to Unit 1, starting Wednesday the 24nd of June at 10am, 
    • There will be new extraordinary guidelines in place regarding conduct within the space, enforcing social distancing, and relevant PPE and hygiene recommendations.
    • Access will be ‘opt-in’ so if you wish to return to the space, email art@farsetlabs.org.uk and we’ll arrange for you to digitally sign the pre-return disclaimer and issue you with new access control codes.

    Other News While We’ve Been in Lockdown

    • We have lent our new Lulzbot Mini 3D printer to Axial3D for their PPE manufacturing project, providing first responders and medical staff with near-medical-grade safety equipment to combat Coronavirus.
    • Our Folding@Home team burned a lot of CPU-cycles to contribute to COVID19 Research, currently ranked in the top 2% of teams in the world.
    • New CCTV policy in place along with ICO registration that clarifies that CCTV is only to be used for security and compliance with law enforcement and no other purpose (along with a 30 day retention period)
    • #BreakfastClub has been operating 6 days a week since March, with members meeting up via Discord to catch up about their days and share.
    • #InfoSecNI, a professional practice network of cybersecurity workers, has been running semi-regular movie nights and tweet-alongs, with Hackers, Sneakers, and WarGames all being shown (And critiqued!). We’ve been supporting #InfoSecNI with communications and technical resources. 

    The Guidelines

    Published both here and at https://www.farsetlabs.org.uk/about/coronavirus_return_policy for completeness

    Purpose

    The purpose of these guidelines is to set out the procedures and restrictions that are put in place to allow Farset Labs to open in a safe manner during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

    These temporary guidelines will remain under constant review, with particular respect to any changes in government guidelines or restrictions. Should any subsequent government policy contradict any aspect of these guidelines it will be expected that Farset Labs and it’s members will immediately comply with government policy.

    In issuing these guidelines the Labs trustees acknowledge that it may be necessary to close the building again at short notice in response to future government directives.

    Organisational Named Person For COVID-19 Response

    Best practices dictate that organisations should have a named person responsible for their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    As such, Art Knipe will be responsible for these guidelines, will be the contact person for questions regarding our response to COVID-19 and will be responsible for organisational contact tracing in the event of a member reporting an infection. (art@farsetlabs.org.uk).

    Should Art be unable to fulfil this role for any reason Colin Mitchell will deputise (colin.mitchell@farsetlabs.org.uk)

    Guidelines for Reopening of Farset Labs

    Farset Labs will begin a phased reopening on 24/06/20 at 10am. The reopening will proceed based on the following guidance:

    • Upon reopening we will request that our members continue to work from home if they can, in line with the guidance from the NI Executive.
    • Access to the building will be subject to these new guidelines.
    • It will be left to the discretion and good sense of individual members to decide whether they can continue to work from home or need to use the space.
    • All members will be required to complete and sign an online Pre-Return form which indicates their agreement with these guidelines. This must be done before they can return to the space.

    If you wish to return to the space at this time, you must contact Art Knipe by email (art@farsetlabs.org.uk) to notify him of your intention to return. You will then be asked to fill in a Pre-Return Disclaimer, after which you will be given new access control codes.

    Do not return to the space if you have not already digitally signed the pre-return disclaimer as you will not be permitted in the building

    Guidelines For Access To Farset Labs During Ongoing COVID-19 Restrictions

    It is anticipated that social distancing restrictions will remain in place for some time. In order to respect these restrictions and to ensure the levels of cleanliness required to prevent infection members will be expected to adhere to the following guidelines.

    • If you are showing any of the known symptoms of COVID-19, please follow government guidelines on self-Isolating, and do not come to the space
    • If you become symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19 and have accessed Farset Labs please notify one of the Labs trustees. It may be necessary to notify other members if there is a chance you have been in close proximity to them. This can be done without disclosing your identity if you wish
    • Wash your hands as soon as you arrive at Farset Labs and frequently thereafter
    • Please avoid physical contact and maintain at least 2 metres distance from other Farset Labs members
    • No more than fifteen (15) people are to be in the building at a given time, and should endeavour to spread themselves out to enforce social distancing.
    • Where possible, you should avoid touching hard surfaces in communal areas of the building and should wash or sanitise your hands after doing so
    • In order to manage the number of people using the building, only members are permitted to access the building.
    • You should not leave your belongings in communal areas of the building
    • Please play your part in helping to ensure high levels of cleanliness throughout the building
    • All members are strongly discouraged from having items delivered to Farset Labs. If you must use Farset Labs as a delivery address please ensure that you are onsite to accept delivery
    • Internal meeting, including members meetings, should take place digitally
    • You are encouraged to follow all government advice on the use of PPE, if it is possible to do so

    In addition to these guidelines and in order to protect the health of our members, Farset Labs will be taking the following steps:

    • All public hire of Farset Labs facilities will remain suspended until further notice, and no non-inducted members, or guests of members, are permitted in the building.
    • Farset Labs will supply cleaning and hygiene stations in the vicinity of all high touch surfaces such as the front door, and throughout the building. You should clean these surfaces before use. You should not remove any cleaning or hygiene products from their locations in the building
    • Farset Labs will provide hand sanitiser at the post-shelves in the main entryway and subject to availability at other points throughout the building
    • Farset Labs will review its cleaning arrangements in order to ensure that high levels of cleanliness are maintained, as far as is practicable

    You are reminded that the government advice to best prevent the spread of COVID-19 is still to remain at home if possible.

    If you choose to come to the space, you acknowledge and accept responsibility for all risks inherent in that choice.

    These guidelines are essential to ensure that Farset Labs remains in compliance with government regulations and does all that is practicable to protect public health and the health of our members.Failure to comply with these guidelines will be treated seriously and may result in temporary or permanent barring from membership of the space, under our existing complaints handling policy available in the Code of Conduct.

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  • 🔒 Building Temporarily Closing

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    On the 23rd of March Boris Johnson announced a complete UK lockdown amid the COVID-19 crisis.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlJIwTd9fqI

    As a result, the Farset Labs building is going to be closed until further notice. The doors will remain open until 7pm on Friday the 27th of March to allow members to collect any necessary belongings and equipment.

    A (remote) Town Hall will be hosted on Wednesday at 7pm – 8pm for any of your questions.
    meet.google.com/rup-uysj-eni

    In the meantime, some important questions are answered below.

    Is Farset Labs stopping all operations?
    No, you’ll start to see way more happening online and we hope you join the mischief!

    Can I access the space after the 27th of March?
    No, until further notice, other than in exceptional circumstances on a case by case basis. In such a case, email info@farsetlabs.org.uk or message @directors on Slack.

    How does this affect my membership and other fees?
    You are free to pause your fees, and reach out to us about refunds for the month of March. However, please keep in mind that the vast majority of membership dues go towards covering core costs which will continue during quarantine.

    Stay at home, stay healthy and keep hacking,
    the Farset Labs team

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  • Statement on #COVID19

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    In response to the #COVID19 pandemic, Farset Labs has made the following decisions.

    1. We are no longer hosting any public events as part of Farset Labs programmes (CoderDojo, ELi5, DataArt, etc)
    2. All Meetings (Town Hall, Management, Trustees) will be remote.
    3. It is recommended that external/community hires of the space also suspend, but events will over all be restricted to less than 15 participants.
    4. It is recommended that no more than 15 people are in the building at any one time
    5. The facility will continue to be open to those who wish to use it, following reasonable precautions outlined below.
    6. Private Meetings can still take place on site if reasonable precautions are enforced.
    7. Do not visit if you are symptomatic (continuous cough or high temperature).
    8. If you develop symptoms and have visited the space in the previous 10 days, please notify us on admin@farsetlabs.org.uk
    9. Hand Sanitiser and Soap will become available throughout the building. 
    10. Facilities are being made available for event organisers to stream presentations to support sustaining their own communities online free of charge.

    Provision of Streaming Facilities for Event Operators

    Last week, we set up a two-camera streaming capability in the event space. This capability is being made available to all event organisers; members or otherwise, for the purposes of hosting online events with presenters. We’re currently awaiting delivery of an HDMI capture device to include higher resolution of projected screen contents, but if you’d like to take advantage of this facility, please get in touch on events@farsetlabs.org.uk

    Reasonable Precautions 

    (As per NHS and WHO Advice)

    • Wash hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds with hot water and soap.
    • Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
    • Stay at home if you’ve got coronavirus symptoms.
      • New, continuous cough.
      • High temperature above 37.5 degrees celsius.
    • Advise social distancing for visitors and members.

    Closing comments

    There’s a lot of these statements going around, and it is a time of lots of news and statistics and a mix between panic and complacency. 

    There is a very high likelihood that we’ll have to shut the facility down completely in the coming weeks. Fortunately, we’re kinda used to that over the past year! If that’s the case we’ll be communicating both openly and privately with members to facilitate safely removing anything they might need from the space while instituting a full “lockdown”.

    In times like this, the physical building of Farset Labs is less important than the community; social distancing doesn’t mean social isolation. Whether you’re a member or not, stay connected on our Slack, Share stuff that you think is cool on our Discourse, and when open meetings come up, please dial in just to chill out.

    Stay nerdy my friends.
    the Farset Labs team

    PS if you want to help with the Coronavirus fight with spare CPU/GPU time; we’ve set up a Folding@Home team #241330 (Be patient, the stats site is under a lot of pressure atm…)

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  • Data Art NI – Open DataNI Outreach Funding

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    Data Art Northern Ireland is a community of technologists, artists, policy makers and other creatives that regularly come together to show, tell and learn about the collision of Data and Art.

    Learn about visualisation techniques, data aggregation, and where to get data sources to create, inform, and excite.

    If you want to get involved, join our Meetup Group to be first to hear when we release our schedule of events.

    https://www.meetup.com/DataArtNI/

    Meetups

    Data Art NI is running meetups across Northern Ireland to bring the tech, creative, and public policy sectors together, so share their successes, failures, experiments and experiences, in order to build a shared understanding of how we can make the world, if not a better place, at least a more informed one!

    Data Art has been operating as a community-run meetup group since 2017, mostly based in Farset Labs, Belfast.

    Thanks to the support of the Department of Finances OpenDataNI Advocacy fund, we are taking the show on the road!

    Venues and partners we plan on working with include:

    If you’d like to host Data Art NI in your venue, please get in touch with us at dataart@farsetlabs.org.uk

    (Also if you’d like to collaborate on running a local chapter of DataArt in your area…)

    Workshops

    Meetups are only part of the puzzle; we need to learn how to handle the different facets of “Data Art”, and that takes more than a cursory presentation…

    Farset Labs are hosting a series of technical and creative workshops to upskill technologists, creatives, and passionate amateurs in targeted capabilities to enable the acquisition, exploration, augmentation, and visualisation of data in one way or another.

    This could (depending on interest displayed) include sessions on topics such as:

    • Programming for Data Analysis
    • Embedded IoT for sensor acquisition and data visualisation
    • Machine Learning and Statistics
    • Geospatial Techniques and Analysis
    • Real-time Visualisation and Sonification
    • Typography and Graphic Design Fundamentals
    • Colour Theory and Interactive Visual Arts Design
    • 3D Design / Game Development
    • Physical Programming (aka Knitting and Crocheting)

    But we want to listen to you! And we’ll be planning out the workshops with partners based on feedback received from the Meetups.

    Hackathons

    Over the past years, Hackathons have become the ‘de-rigueur’ way of engaging with the technology community to showcase some technology, problem, or task to be crowdsourced or socialised, usually in exchange for an .

    Rather than running a big, high end, one-off, 24 hour crunch-time hackathon, we are running a quarterly series of hackathons instead, all with the thread around the cleaning, use, analysis and ‘artification’ of open data to inform and excite.

    This provides time to really understand processes, projects and experiments, and also for relevant data owners in local government to be able to react and engage with the data-user community through platforms like OpenDataNI, and provide space to get real projects off the ground and make real change in our communities.

    Open Data Innovation and Outreach Fund

    We’re not the only ones being supported in this programme; Seven projects from Belfast, Derry and Newry have been successful from the £30,000 fund which encourages innovation in the reuse of data on the Open Data NI portal.

    Allstate Northern Ireland was awarded £2,500 in partnership with Belfast City Council to host hackathon events for the technology community and STEM students.

    Also among the winners was Anaeko Limited, who received £3,000 to host events and marketing activities for entrepreneurs to develop sustainable business models leveraging Open Data.

    Derry City and Strabane District Council in partnership with Carnegie UK Trust was awarded £3,000 to host cross sectoral workshops to tell the story of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon; Derry and Strabane; and Lisburn and Castlereagh Council council areas.

    Newry 2020 received £4,995 to deliver an integrated environmental sensor network to assess the impact of human activities on the environment in Newry and £2,995 to host outreach events.

    Xpand Group in partnership with Belfast City Council was awarded £4,960 to create a shared access platform to enable business case development and decision making for large scale regional projects, while Flax & Teal Limited received £5,000 to develop an environmental disaster simulation tool for use in education and emergency planning.

    Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister Conor Murphy, who announced the winners, said: “This fund provides entrepreneurs and organisations with a real opportunity to use public sector data for commercial opportunities and drive future economic growth.

    “I am delighted to meet the winners and hear more about the range of ingenious projects and events which will further develop digital skills while creating a culture of data transparency.

    “It is encouraging to see the collaborative approach the winners have taken, working with community groups, businesses and local councils to optimise public sector data for research, outreach and innovation.”

    Farset Labs is receiving £6,000 (as part of a budget of £11,000) to run the Data Art programme, including 6 Meetups, 6 Workshops and 4 Hackathons, and this budget allocation is directly to fund venue, refreshments, travel and equipment costs.

    If you’d like to participate in the programme or help run the project, join the Meetup Group below or contact dataart@farsetlabs.org.uk for more information.

    https://www.meetup.com/DataArtNI/

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  • Global Game Jam | 31st Jan – 2nd Feb 2020

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    Global Game Jam is back in the building to kick-off the new year!
    Register your seat now!

    Global Game Jam at Farset Labs is back again in 2020, with support from Northern Ireland Screen. The Game Jam will run from Friday 31st January to Sunday 2nd February – come meet some great people and develop a game idea in a weekend. With a party atmosphere from Friday night, there will be plenty of people there to team up with, create something interesting and (most importantly) to have fun!

    WHAT IS GLOBAL GAME JAM?

    A global simultaneous hackathon making games of all sorts, from full-scale console productions to mobile, web-based and embedded games, as well as table-top board- and card-games. Some will be just for fun, others for charitable causes like Games For Change, and none of them exist before this weekend!

    Farset Labs has been running Northern Ireland’s largest regular public GGJ site since 2013, this year joining over 100 other countries taking part. We will be live streaming video from sites all over the world during the weekend, and there will also be an opportunity to see and play other teams’ games at the end of the event. The details of the venue are also available on our Global Game Jam listing.

    HOW DO I ENTER?

    We ask that you reserve your seat at Farset Labs on Eventbrite, so that we can get accurate numbers for our food orders (included in your registration).

    You can then complete your Global Game Jam registration on or before Friday 31st January.

    Global Game Jam is always very popular; so to avoid disappointment, book early!

    Registration this year is £5.99 per person – registration will reserve your seat for the weekend as well as helping us to provide you with catered meals for the full weekend and unique GGJ Belfast goodies!

    The theme is announced on-site at 5pm on Friday 31st January so we recommend everyone be in Farset before that time, or send word if you will be arriving later on. We look forward to seeing you all, as it will be a great weekend!

    WHAT DO I NEED?

    There is no required skill level or barrier for entry; we welcome programmers, artists, musicians and anyone else who might be interested in being involved! Bring yourself and your equipment – the organisers recommend that participants wait until the beginning of the event to form teams. We have found that this worked well in the past and gives interesting results.

    Please note: You must be over 18 on the 31st of January to participate.

    More information will be provided in the run-up, but please feel free to contact events@farsetlabs.org.uk or ask us questions via Facebook or Twitter with the #farsetggj20 hashtag.

    Brought to you to with support from Northern Ireland Screen.

    VITAL INFO

    Start/End: 31/1/18 @ 16:00 – 2/2/18 @ 20:00

    Location: Farset Labs, 1 Weavers Court, Belfast

    Farset Seat Reservation: [Eventbrite]

    GGJ Site Listing: [GGJ 2020]

    Facebook Event: [facebook.com/farsetlabs]

    Hashtags: #farsetggj20 #ggj20

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