Glasgow’s creative legacy has long shaped how the world creates, communicates and experiences culture. From early television pioneers to globally influential design, music and architecture, the city has always punched above its weight creatively.

At our latest Art of Possible session — From Clyde Built to Creative Capital: How Glasgow is Driving the Future of 3D Content — we explored how that same creative DNA is now powering a new era of immersive technologies, virtual production and advanced 3D content creation.

Hosted at Glasgow Science Centre, the session brought together leaders from across the city’s creative tech ecosystem:

  • Professor Pauline Mackay, Co-Director, Realities & Immersion Glasgow (Chair)
  • Pauline McCloy-Turtle, Creative Director, SUUM Studio
  • Professor Neil McDonnell, University of Glasgow
  • Douglas Liddle, City of Glasgow College

Together, they offered perspectives spanning XR research, immersive production, real-time 3D workflows and the talent pipeline shaping the next generation of creators.

A key theme throughout the session was the scale and influence of the creative industries.

From immersive studios to education and research, speakers highlighted how the sector is not only growing rapidly, but also underpinning innovation across other industries — from branding and digital experiences to simulation and training.

As discussed on the panel, creative tech is no longer a niche — it’s a core driver of economic activity, innovation and identity across Glasgow.

The conversation also explored how new tools and workflows are reshaping creative production.

Advances in real-time engines, digital environments and visualisation are dramatically accelerating what’s possible — with processes that once took days now happening live.

At the same time, increased access to tools and online learning is lowering barriers to entry, enabling more creators to experiment and build immersive experiences.

With Glasgow’s strong education ecosystem, the discussion turned to how further and higher education are responding to industry demand.

Close collaboration between colleges, universities and industry is helping to align skills with evolving workflows — but the pace of change means there is an ongoing need to adapt curricula and invest in resources.

The message was clear: talent will be critical to sustaining Glasgow’s growth as a creative tech hub.

The session combined short lightning talks with an open panel discussion and audience Q&A — creating space for both insight and conversation.

And importantly, the impact was clear — attendees left with a significantly stronger understanding of Glasgow’s creative industries ecosystem.

“Excellent event, which underlines the city’s global position in immersive and 3D content creation across multiple sectors.” – Attendee

“Very enjoyable and informative event — the panel allowed us a good amount of time to hear from all speakers.” – Attendee

This session reinforced Glasgow’s position as a globally competitive hub for creative technology — where heritage, talent and innovation come together to shape the future of content creation.

If you’re interested in being part of this growing ecosystem, keep your eyes peeled for future Art of Possible events.