Samantha King - Head of Programme, VIVE Arts (HTC)

Samantha is the Head of Programme at VIVE Arts (HTC), a global arts programme supporting artists and cultural organisations to experiment with immersive technology. Previous to VIVE Arts, she was Senior Producer of Audience Labs at the Royal Opera House, an innovation programme bringing together artists and next generation technology to create boundary-breaking contemporary opera and ballet experiences. She has also held positions at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and Museum of the Moving Image in New York.

Samantha specialises in producing multilayered, interdisciplinary experiences and exhibitions that explore creative innovation using digital tools. She has worked with a range of artists, designers, technologists and creatives, and with partners across sectors in the UK and internationally including Google Creative Lab, UKRI, the Smithsonian, Musee d’Orsay, National Gallery, and Art Basel. She is particularly interested in new forms of cultural infrastructure, the transformative potential of technology on artistic practice, and how interdisciplinary collaborations and creative R&D can offer new possibilities for artists, audiences, and the future of culture.

Samantha is a member of the British Interactive Media Association Immersive Tech Council and trustee of the Manchester-based arts organisation Abandon Normal Devices.

Alexandre Roux - Director of Strategy & Development, Lucid Realities & Unframed Collection

After completing a master’s degree in marketing and international trade at the Bordeaux Business school (INSEEC), and a master degree in "Design, medias and new technologies" at Paris 1 Université - La Sorbonne, Alexandre Roux has worked 10+ years in the film industry (production and distribution of documentary and TV series) as head of marketing and business development. He joined Lucid Realities in 2018 to develop its national and international distribution strategy. He is one of the main contributors to the creation of the “Unframed Collection”, the first VR distribution platform fully dedicated to cultural venues.