LONDON, February 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The IPA has launched a new microsite today to capture the news and views of some of the world's brightest minds in technology during the SXSW Interactive Festival, taking place 9^th-13^th March in Austin, Texas.  The site is now live and already features blogs from member agencies attending the event.  Fresh content will be posted up daily to provide those not attending with a synopsis of the most up-to-date innovations in the digital world.

For the second year running the IPA will be going to the Festival. Now in its 19^th year it attracts approximately 32,000 people annually, with five days of presentations and networking events hosted by industry leaders showcasing the best new websites, digital projects, wireless applications, video games and start up ideas. The IPA will be meeting up with the 30 member agencies also making the trip, to provide an informal support network to them, and will host on a daily basis a 'happy hour' from 1700-1800 at the Hilton Austin Hotel, 500 East 4^th Street.  

Many of the agencies attending will be blogging about each day's events on the microsite. And following the trip Nigel Gwilliam, IPA's Head of Digital and Dwain Thomas, IPA Digital Consultant will be touring the UK in April and May to give member agencies an inspirational synopsis of the best things they saw and learnt at the festival.

Says Dwain Thomas: "With so much amazing content to take in over this five day period, we've created this microsite to filter the best content from it.  By chronicling the activities and presentations for those back in the UK, as well as encouraging those member agencies attending to contribute to it, we intend to bring SXSW to your doorstep.  This festival is one of the top concentrations of cutting edge technology in the world and is part of our commitment to further build our knowledge in the digital sphere."  

Says Jeremy Wilmott, Head of Creative Technology, Weapon 7, in his blog for the microsite: "It started to occur to me that this conference was becoming a bit of a Mecca for creative interactive ideas. A body of advertising folk and technologists congregating on this place from all over the world. And for a brief five days in Texas something always seems to emerge….It's a chance to get away from London and mull for a bit. To go beyond advertising and the immediacy of the campaign deadline and be able to wonder at how this rapidly changing technology landscape is affecting our lives. This will probably happen in the hours after the conferences. It will be in the bars and social events where this chatter will be created. Hooking into this hive mind for five days, to live and breathe it is what I'm most excited about."

For more information  on the Festival and the IPA microsite go to:

http://www.ipasxsw.com

You can also follow us on twitter @IPASXSW

And join our LinkedIn group:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/IPASXSW-2012-4296047?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr

The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) is the trade body and professional institute for UK advertising, media and marketing communications agencies. It was established in 1917 as a servicing body and to negotiate on behalf of its members with media bodies, government departments and unions. Its 248 corporate members handle over 80% of the UK's advertising agency business which has an estimated value (excluding press and TV production) of £17.7 billion.

SOURCE The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA)