Overview
Keen on all things innovative when it comes to technology and culture? Suffer from pangs of envy when SXSW kicks off on the other side of the planet each March? Jetting around the world to get your fix mightn't be realistic; however, thanks to Brisbane's newest festival, it's no longer necessary. Say hello to Myriad.
Coming to Brisbane Powerhouse from March 29 to 31, Myriad might be in its first year, but that hasn't stopped the fest from going big. More than 100 speakers from over 20 different countries will ponder the future of culture, health, money, cities, and work and play — aka the event's five key themes — with more than 2000 people expected to head along to listen. Still playing the numbers game, more than 100 startups and 75 investors will be represented at the kind of gathering that aims to bring technology's best and brightest together in the one place.
As for what everyone will be chatting about, topics include the intersection of fashion, robotics and technology; future business trends such as shaking hands with robots (yes, expect to hear robots come up quite often); tech advancements everywhere from Estonia to Chile; 3D-printed body organs; things that you can learn from Spotify and Tinder; drones; and the future of sex (you know that robots will get a mention here too). In addition to the discussion component of the program, Myriad also features a variety of interactive experiences, such as an art exhibition that explores sexual violence and women's rights through augmented reality, an exclusive V8 racing installation, and a series of collaborations with fellow Brissie fest BIGSOUND.
That might sound like a massive amount of interesting pieces all jammed into two and a half bustling days; however consider organisers and Myriad cofounders Murray Galbraith and Martin Talvari up to the task. Galbraith was behind Melbourne's Pause Fest in 2015, while Talvari was formerly one of the guiding hands at Slush, the Helsinki startup event with more than 17,500 attendees. A word of warning, though: because Myriad is a conference-style event, tickets aren't cheap.
