THE inaugural edition of Future Now: The Aesthetica Art Prize Symposium has been a "resounding success".

Hosted last Thursday and Friday by York's international art and culture publication, Aesthetica, the event provided an opportunity for artists, industry professionals and audiences to connect and participate in discussions about today’s artistic climate.

More than 300 delegates attended the symposium at York St John University, keen to hear from the list of 40 speakers who were present to dispense industry tips and give insight into artistic opportunities. Speakers included representatives from some of Britain's leading art organisations, such as the Centre for Contemporary Art in Glasgow, Frieze magazine, The Art Newspaper, the National Media Museum in Bradford and Liverpool Biennial.

Session topics investigated a number of key issues, such as photography in the digital age; the permanence of print; artists’ film and the moving image; contemporary painting; artist progression routes; curating for the future, and talent development and responsibility.

Among the speakers were independent practitioners from Britain and across the world, such as the Aesthetica Art Prize 2016 shortlisted artists Liz West, James Winter, prize winner Rachel Ara and student prize winner David Hochgatterer. This year’s finalists worked across assorted media, including light and colour and architecture and installation, calling into question value systems and investigating the way we interact with contemporary art.

Aesthetica editor Cherie Federico, director of the symposium, said: "At Aesthetica we are passionate about championing and supporting innovation in contemporary art. Future Now provided an excellent place for critical engagement and enabled the exchange of ideas and the development of new collaborations.

"It was great to see artists discovering new ways to further their careers through the portfolio reviews and networking sessions. We are thrilled with the first edition of the symposium and are looking forward to hosting the event in 2017.”

Film screenings took place in the evenings at 1331's boutique cinema in Grape Lane, providing attendees with the opportunity to experience the shortlisted and long-listed artist film works in a cinema context. The screening programme included Andrea Luka Zimmerman’s shortlisted feature-length documentary Estate: A Reverie, Ruben van Leer’s long-listed work Symmetry and a specially curated selection of films from the BAFTA Qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF), which will return to York from November 3 to 6.