VANCOUVER WELCOMES BACK CITY’S LARGEST CONVENTION TO DATE

SIGGRAPH 2014 to contribute an estimated $39 million in direct spending to the local economy


The Vancouver Convention Centre and TourismVancouver are gearing up to welcome the best and brightest from across the globe in the computer graphics and digital effects community.

SIGGRAPH, the annual conference of the Association of Computer Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, is returning to Vancouver from August 10 to14, utilizing both the Vancouver Convention Centre’s East and West buildings.

SIGGRAPH is recognized as the world’s most respected technical and creative program focusing on research, science, art, animation, technology, gaming, interactivity, education and the web. It also includes a three-day exhibition of leading products and services from the computer graphics industry, as well as an interactive marketplace.

In 2011, SIGGRAPH was held for the first time outside the United States at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The largest convention hosted to date in Vancouver, the 2011 conference brought nearly 16,000 computer graphics and interactive technology professionals to the city. SIGGRAPH 2014 is expected to draw similar attendance from more than 60 countries spanning five continents, generating an estimated $39 million in direct spending to the local economy.

SIGGRAPH is offering a special discount to locals to encourage them to experience a day of the conference with an “Exhibits Plus” one-day pass for $48 USD (normally $75). This pass provides access to SIGGRAPH components that include: the Art Gallery, Birds of a Feather, Emerging Technologies, Exhibitor Tech Talks, Exhibits Fast Forward (August 11 only), Job Fair, Posters, Studio, Technical Papers Fast Forward (August 10 only), and the Exhibition (August 12-14). To receive the discount, use the code LOCALSIG14 when registering at s2014.siggraph.org.

Quotes:

Dave Shreiner, SIGGRAPH 2014 Conference Chair
“Vancouver is a great destination for SIGGRAPH, given its blend of technology and natural beauty, international flair, and vibrant vibe. The city is the perfect home for the SIGGRAPH community and our varied interests: art, technology, games, animation, visual effects, robotics 3D printing, and virtual reality, to name a few. It truly is a great destination for both business and inspiration.”

Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
“This is a great opportunity to showcase the Vancouver Convention Centre and our beautiful province. The association is also inviting the public to attend at a modest cost, which is a great opportunity for our up-and-coming technology professionals.”

Ken Cretney, President and CEO, PavCo (interim)
“We are extremely pleased to welcome back SIGGRAPH to the Vancouver Convention Centre. The return of this international convention after only three years speaks to the incredible draw of our city and province for an event of this magnitude – from the thriving computer graphics and digital effects community to the state-of-the-art Convention Centre and tourism infrastructure.”

Ty Speer, President and CEO, Tourism Vancouver
“Vancouver has become a recognized hub for technology and innovation thanks to its inspiring surroundings, state-of-the-art convention centre and supportive tourism industry – and SIGGRAPH’s return to our city shows that the rest of the world agrees. I have no doubt that Vancouver will offer even more inspiration to these talented individuals as they continue to develop and share cutting-edge products and technologies.”

Shawn Walsh, Visual Effects Executive Producer, Image Engine
“Vancouver is a credible and competitive centre for the world’s best blockbuster film visual effects. I believe the 2011 conference really helped put Vancouver on the map. SIGGRAPH introduced the wider industry to how great our city is, the quality of the visual effects being produced locally, and how fantastic it is to work here.”

Kunal Ghosh Dastider, Senior Effects Technical Director, Industrial Light & Magic
“Vancouver is an ideal host city for SIGGRAPH because it’s such an awesome, welcoming place! Given the explosion in recent years of the local industry and talent pool, I strongly feel Vancouver is a natural fit for this group.”

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