be-good partnered with FOTAM to produce an open-source LIVE Unconference at Somerset House, bringing together voices from contemporary art, technology and commerce to explore the forces reshaping the art world.

The ambition was not to deliver a traditional conference, but to create a space where participants could question, debate and contribute to the conversation themselves.

The Brief

FOTAM wanted to examine some of the biggest challenges and digital trends facing the art industry, from emerging technology and changing commercial models to wider cultural and political shifts.

The event needed to bring together people with different perspectives and give them the freedom to explore difficult questions openly, rather than simply listen to a series of predetermined presentations.

Our Thinking

We used the unconference format to put participation at the centre of the experience.

Multiple discussion zones across Somerset House created space for smaller, more dynamic conversations, allowing attendees to move between topics, challenge one another and contribute their own expertise.

The programme tackled provocative questions including whether brand collaborations undermine artistic credibility, how technology could affect artists’ long-term careers, and the influence of developments such as blockchain and Brexit on the wider art ecosystem.

Rather than positioning speakers as the only experts in the room, the format treated the audience as an active part of the conversation.

The Outcome

The result was an energetic and highly participatory event that gave people across art, technology and commerce a fresh way to explore the changes affecting their industry.

The format encouraged open debate, unexpected perspectives and genuine knowledge-sharing, helping turn a complex set of issues into conversations people wanted to take part in.