Connect with us

Technology

BLINK®, Illuminated by ArtsWave, Returns in 2024 to Light Up Cincinnati for Its Fourth Edition

Published

on

After Unprecedented Success in 2022, Nation’s Largest Light, Art, and Projection Mapping Experience Returns With New Dates To Immerse Cincy Streets in 2024

CINCINNATI, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Following its triumphant 2022 post-pandemic return to live spectacle, the BLINK® partners are thrilled to announce that the giant public art spectacle will return to the streets and buildings of Cincinnati from October 17th to October 20th, 2024. BLINK, Illuminated by ArtsWave, brings a unique and cherished free opportunity for attendees to interact with some of the world’s most innovative and engaging art throughout the city.

 

Sure to be a hallmark of the 2024 experience, BLINK is bringing projection mapping back to Cincinnati Music Hall. An iconic landmark and defining piece of Cincinnati architecture and history, Music Hall has stood at the corner of 14th and Elm for over 140 years.

Sitting solidly at the crossover between digital and physical, BLINK draws both artists and attendees from all over the globe to experience truly immersive art amidst the familiar cityscape. The biennial event is the nation’s largest light, art, and projection mapping experience, and as such, it has garnered quite the fanbase, providing an impressive group with unforgettable memories. In 2022 alone, the event saw 2.1 million attendees from 29 different states.

BLINK is not only an asset in terms of community enjoyment, it is also responsible for an incredible positive fiscal impact, with $126 million direct economic impact for the Cincinnati region. Not only this, but the 2022 edition featured 71 total artists – 18 international, 21 U.S.-based, and 32 local – establishing BLINK as truly universal, exposing people to art from around the world and the magic of Cincinnati.

Mayor Aftab Pureval touches on BLINK’s impact on the city of Cincinnati, saying, “BLINK has firmly established itself as a cultural icon that reverberates energy and excitement across the globe. With its intentional approach to celebrating what makes Cincinnati a world-class art city, BLINK offers an unmatched experience found exclusively in Cincinnati.”

With returning Executive Director Justin Brookhart at the helm, BLINK 2024 is sure to be a breath-taking community-building experience. In 2022, Brookhart’s organizational leadership skills and collaborative mindset led the team towards a wider audience, celebrating all that Cincinnati/NKY and the art world at large have to offer. This year, Brookhart looks forward to applying everything he’s learned to a wildly successful 2024 event.

“I am honored to be leading the charge to return BLINK for its fourth edition in 2024,” said Brookhart “The work and impact wouldn’t be possible without the artists, partners, and supporters who put their time and energy in to create such a magical experience, and I’m thrilled to work with them again.”

This massive undertaking would not be possible without ArtsWave, the primary source of funding for the region’s arts, which also powers the BLINK experience. Alecia Kintner, President & CEO of ArtsWave, explains that BLINK adds to the region’s enviable array of defining cultural events. “As a nationally ranked top 20 most arts vibrant community, Cincinnati remains a leader in arts innovation and participation. The more the public invests in the arts through the ArtsWave Community Campaign, the more exciting our region becomes. BLINK is a vivid example of how – with sufficient investment and imagination — the arts can drive Cincinnati’s rise and growth, creating a wave of economic and social benefits.

Andrew Salzbrun, the Managing Partner of AGAR and BLINK’s Co-founder, returns with strong curatorial programming, working in tandem with Brookhart and the Cincinnati Chamber. AGAR was responsible for much of 2022’s global influence and striking pieces, and looks forward to bringing new voices to 2024’s event. “BLINK embodies the diverse and collaborative spirit of the midwest. The invitation for global artists and local residents to connect through art, provides fertile ground for inspiration, community building and economic growth of the region. As a steward of that opportunity, it’s an honor to bring BLINK back in 2024.”

About BLINK
BLINK, Illuminated by ArtsWave, is an unforgettable four-day, 30 city block, outdoor art experience that unites street art, projection mapping, light-based installations, and music. BLINK is produced and curated by its Executive Partners – the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, AGAR, and the Haile Foundation, and produced in conjunction with its Partners ArtWorks, Cincy Nice, and ish – to provide opportunities for regional artists and bring in global creators all in the pursuit of a stronger community.

Media Inquiries: Hijinx PR | Heidi Johnson | 361957@email4pr.com | 323.204.7246

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blink-illuminated-by-artswave-returns-in-2024-to-light-up-cincinnati-for-its-fourth-edition-301874375.html

SOURCE BLINK Cincinnati

Continue Reading

Technology

The Second Global Business Summit on BRI Infrastructure to Accelerate the SDGs Held in Singapore

Published

on

By

SINGAPORE, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Second Global Business Summit on Belt and Road Infrastructure Investment to Accelerate the SDGs was held in Singapore under the theme “Connect for Better World.” The Summit was organized by the UN Global Compact’s Sustainable Infrastructure for the Belt and Road Initiative to Accelerate the SDGs Action Platform, co-organized by UN Global Compact Network Singapore.

The Summit convened over 300 senior leaders and representatives of international organizations, global and regional enterprises, civil society organizations, academics and think tanks, launching a dozen of Sustainability-driven joint actions and innovative partnerships led by private sector with a view to unlock opportunities of BRI infrastructure cooperation to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Summit adopted a declaration setting out business priorities for sustainable infrastructure, responsible AI, just energy transition, global supply chains resilience, sustainable finance, women and youth empowerment in digital era and international cooperation in traditional medicine. The Summit launched expert groups on sustainable energy and sustainable digital infrastructure, alongside 12 SDG-driven outcomes covering green mining, electricity carbon-footprint standards, biodiversity conservation, ocean protection, sustainable transport, women’s microenterprise growth and inclusive global development, led by private sector pioneers.

UN Assistant Secretary general, CEO of UN Global Compact Ms. Sanda Ojiambo noted resilient infrastructure is key to long-term sustainable development. She emphasized: “the initiatives being launched today – from new expert groups on sustainable energy and digital infrastructure to new guidance on biodiversity, green minerals, and responsible AI – demonstrate that meaningful progress depends on collaboration across borders, sectors, and value chains.” Through the BRI for SDGs Action Platform, she added, “companies are joining forces to develop practical guidance, share expertise, and collaborate on solutions that can be applied across industries and regions.”

Mr. Selwin Hart, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Climate Action and Just Transition said: “Through the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese businesses and financial institutions can help connect China’s extraordinary clean energy capabilities with the enormous growth opportunities across the developing world. The next chapter of the energy transition must show what cooperation at scale can achieve. Because in a divided world, our greatest opportunities will come not from retreating behind borders, but from building bridges — connecting markets, mobilizing investment, sharing solutions and creating prosperity together.

2026 kicks start the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety Mr. Jean Todt noted the Belt and Road Initiative is one of the world’s largest infrastructure and connectivity efforts. Its scale must be matched by an equally strong commitment to safety. Mr. Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs of United Nations concluded the Summit by appealing “No single country can tackle today’s complex connectivity challenges in isolation. Cooperation, between governments, international organizations, financial institutions and the private sector, is crucial for keeping us connected. The Belt and Road Initiative stands as a prime example of cross-border connectivity in action.

Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, Mr. Stephen Jackson, UN resident coordinator in China and Mr. Nikolas Myint, UN resident coordinator in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam highlighted importance role of the Summit to foster cross-border collaboration while noted China, Singapore and ASEAN region’s contribution to regional stability and global progress towards the SDGs.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-second-global-business-summit-on-bri-infrastructure-to-accelerate-the-sdgs-held-in-singapore-302870873.html

SOURCE UN Global Compact

Continue Reading

Technology

TCL Showcases AI Inspired Life at IFA 2026 Through Its Screen Universe

Published

on

By

From next-generation displays and AI-powered smart home experiences to sports-inspired moments, TCL presents an immersive vision of everyday life in the AI era.

BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TCL today unveiled its vision for an AI Inspired Life at IFA 2026 through the “Inspiration Habitat,” an immersive smart-living environment that brings together next-generation displays, AI-powered smart home experiences and sustainable energy solutions. Built around TCL’s Screen Universe, the exhibition shows how screens across forms and applications are evolving into intelligent interfaces connecting people with content, services and the physical world.

With the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 taking place in Berlin during IFA, TCL is extending this vision from the exhibition floor to sports-inspired fan experiences, showing how display innovation and AI-enabled living can bring the energy of the court closer to everyday life.

“At IFA 2026, TCL is showing how AI and display innovation can create more intuitive, immersive and human-centered experiences,” said Daniel Sun, CTO of TCL Industries. “Through our Screen Universe, TCL is turning advanced display technologies and AI capabilities into tangible home experiences.”

TCL’s Screen Universe Turns Display Innovation into Everyday Intelligence

At IFA 2026, TCL brought together voices from technology, entertainment and creative industries to examine how larger screens, improved picture quality and intelligent interaction are shaping immersive home entertainment.

A key highlight is the TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV, which delivers up to 100% BT.2020 All-Scene Wide Color Gamut, precise dimming and up to HDR 10,000 nits peak brightness through next-generation display technologies. TCL also introduced RayNeo GT Max AR Glasses, the world’s first Dolby Vision-certified AR glasses, extending premium viewing beyond the living room into personal, mobile scenarios.

AI Inspired Life: Intelligence That Lives in Everyday Moments

Through the latest NXTHOME™ ecosystem, TCL presents a future-oriented approach to connected living, where smart displays, connected home appliances, AI experiences, interior design and sustainable living create a home environment that adapts to people’s needs.

The AiMe Family Companion Robot brings intelligent technology to life through natural multimodal interaction and lifelike motion control. TCL’s AI-powered appliances, including the FreshIN 3.0 Ultra Air Conditioner, TCL Free Built-in Refrigerator and TCL AI SuperDrum Laundry Tower P9 Ultra, translate AI capabilities into practical experiences across air care, food storage and laundry care.

Inspire Your Passion: Bringing the Thrill of Sport Beyond the Court

From the Olympic Games to the world’s top arenas, TCL continues to use sport as a powerful way to connect people through shared moments of passion, performance and possibility that Inspire Greatness in everyday life.

With IFA 2026 and the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 both taking place in Berlin, TCL is bringing the energy of women’s basketball into its Inspiration Habitat through basketball-inspired experiences and fan interactions. TCL is embedding the spirit of #TCLforHer across its activations and global communications, celebrating the confidence, resilience and ambition represented by women’s basketball.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tcl-showcases-ai-inspired-life-at-ifa-2026-through-its-screen-universe-302870862.html

Continue Reading

Technology

VITG Unveils Modern Managed Services and Managed Detection & Response as Part of a Broader AI and Cybersecurity Transformation across ANZ

Published

on

By

SYDNEY, Sept. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As organisations across Australia and New Zealand navigate the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence, increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, and growing governance requirements, Virtual IT Group   (VITG) has announced the launch of Modern Managed Services  (MMS)  and Managed Detection & Response  (MDR) , that are next-generation managed services and managed security offerings designed to help organisations remain secure, resilient and ready for what’s next.

Modern Managed Services delivers a Modern Defensible Architecture framework for managed IT operations, ensuring security controls, governance frameworks and operational best practices are embedded and continuously maintained. Complementing this, Managed Detection & Response provides organisations with 24×7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) capability, actively monitoring, investigating and responding to threats using advanced security analytics and response technologies.

Jeremy Nees , Chief Product Officer, VITG , said:

“Too often, organisations purchase managed services only to discover they do not have the standard level of security they need. As businesses adopt AI, the old-world IT solutions that Managed Service Providers (MSP) are selling are simply not going to cut it. We’ve baked common security requirements into the MMS service from day one, applying the key principles of Modern Defensible Architecture: Secure-by-Design, Defense in Depth, and Zero Trust.

MDR and ZDR   can be layered on top or are available independently if you have your own IT service or team. The push to adopt AI is leaving security gaps across the ANZ mid-market. Our goal is to provide customers with technology that is secure, resilient, and ready for what’s next.”

The launch marks VITG’s second major solution release of the year, following the introduction of its Zero Trust Consulting Practice  and Zero Trust Detection & Response  (ZDR)  offering earlier in 2026. It is also the Group’s first launch since acquiring cybersecurity outfit Security Centric , building on the addition of Auckland based The Instillery  in 2025 and further strengthening VITG’s capabilities across managed services, cloud, cybersecurity, data and AI. VITG is also advancing a dedicated Data & AI Practice and Momentum, a continuous improvement framework currently being piloted with customers ahead of a market launch later this year.

Since joining VITG  at the start of the year, Maurice McCarthy , Chief Executive Officer , is committed to moving at pace to meet the demand that has been created off the back of the market’s rapid adoption of AI.   

McCarthy said, “The traditional managed services model was built for a different era. Today’s organisations need partners that can help them unlock the value of data and AI while strengthening cybersecurity, managing risk, and continuously evolving their technology environment.

Through the acquisition of Security Centric and The Instillery we have brought together market-leading expertise across managed services, data and AI, and cybersecurity. This launch is the first of several innovations we will introduce as we help organisations accelerate transformation and realise greater value from AI.”

Sash Vasilevski , Chief Security Officer, VITG , said:

“The technology businesses are using to unlock the value of AI, integrate systems, and build strong data foundations, is rapidly introducing new risks and attack surfaces.

As business leaders accelerate their adoption of AI, the gap between the threats they face and the security capabilities they have in place is growing faster than many businesses realise.”

Modern Managed Services and Managed Detection & Response are available immediately.

For more information, visit:

Modern Managed Services (MMS)

Managed Detection & Response (MDR)

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/vitg-unveils-modern-managed-services-and-managed-detection–response-as-part-of-a-broader-ai-and-cybersecurity-transformation-across-anz-302870081.html

SOURCE Virtual IT Group

Continue Reading

Trending