Digital meets Culture

The STARTS Residencies Program organises collaborations between artists and tech projects, APPLY NOW!

Atlas by Yann Deval and Marie G. Losseau – Credit : Tom Mesic

Tech Projects

Interested in working with artists to expand technological boundaries, explore novel utilizations, produce new prototypes, and stimulate groundbreaking processes? Boost the innovation potential of your technology by applying to the STARTS Residencies!

Only two weeks left to submit your project!

What is a Tech Project?
A research and innovation project (collaborative or internal to a lab or company) in the field of information and communication technologies.

Artists and Creatives

Want to work with Tech engineers, travel arround Europe, showcase your artworks to new audiences, and obtain a grant of up to 30 000€ to do so?

Be part of a STARTS Residency and produce an original artwork based on a specific technology! Discover the available Tech Projects. The call for Artists will close in a month!

Who can apply?
Experienced artists of any artistic field and nationality. An artist must be a physical person and will be the author of the produced artwork.

More info and application details: https://vertigo.starts.eu/calls/starts-residencies-call-3/detail/

Brussels (Belgium), 20 November 2018

A New Era for Data Protection: Implementing the European Data Protection Reform

Introduced in May 2018, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is considered “the biggest change to the EU’s data protection rules in over twenty years” (EUROPA 2018). Prior to their introduction, 8 out of 10 people felt they didn’t have complete control of their personal data (Eurobarometer 2015). Whether these developments allay concerns and implement comprehensive measures for dealing with the Internet era’s global and ubiquitous data requires examination.

Designed to create a modern framework for data protection with increased legal certainty, protections and obligations, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Directive (DPD, so called Police Directive) came into force in May, having been agreed on by the European Parliament and Commission in 2015. The reforms aim to strengthen individual rights, streamline the data economy through standardised legislation across the Digital Single Market and facilitate the free flow of data to promote public security. Currently, the EU’s ePrivacy Directive, Regulation 45/2001 outlining rules for data protection in EU institutions and a directive on Protection Rules for Telecoms Networks and Internet Services are being considered, altered and replaced to ensure they are in keeping with the reforms.

The rapid advancement of technology makes data protection especially challenging. The latest reforms, designed not to be prescriptive or short-sighted, contain general terms which are at risk of misinterpretation or manipulation. Moreover, third country agreements and information sharing, recently illustrated by the EU-US Privacy Shield issues and the application of the Passenger Name Records Directives, demonstrate the complexities of data protection which stretch far beyond the European community. Navigating incompatibility issues and ensuring suitable security measures which don’t breach fundamental rights remains a challenge.

This international symposium offers an invaluable opportunity for key stakeholders in the public and private sectors to assess the latest data protection developments and their practical implications for individual privacy, the digital economy and security. The event will discuss the changing relationship of the user to their data and its impact on the digital economy. Striking the balance between security and privacy concerns will also be addressed. Furthermore, the event will explore the interoperability of EU data protection regulation with privacy frameworks worldwide and solutions for overcoming current incompatibilities.

Website: http://www.publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/IK20-PPE1?ss=em&tg=1a

Delegates will:

Assess the data protection reforms in practice and their impact on users, the digital economy and security
Debate the future of data protection regulations in a rapidly advancing digital environment.
Discuss the practical implications of a user-centric approach to data protection
Reflect on the opportunities and challenges posed by data portability
Consider ways to embrace the potential of the digital economy whilst protecting fundamental rights
Explore the relationship between data protection regulations and emerging technologies
Determine ways to guarantee public security without compromising data protection rights
Examine the interoperability of EU rules with privacy frameworks worldwide

To view our brochure, including the full event programme, click here.

A videogame to discover Bologna and its museums

Call for application! “Bologna si mette in gioco. Playable Bologna”

The public contest “Bologna si mette in gioco- Playable Bologna” is open for applications up to November 27th 2018. Applicants shall develop a videogame aimed at highlighting the historical, artistic and cultural heritage of Bologna taking off from some ideas for narration offered by the museums Museo Civico Medievale and Museo di Palazzo Poggi.
The contest is open to both professionals and companies having registered office and based in any EU member state.
The contest is co-funded by the Bologna municipality and by the Horizon 2020 EU research and innovation programme (contract no. 730280) via the Rock project (ROCK stands for Regeneration and Optimisation of Cultural heritage in creative and Knowledge cities), whose aim is to support regeneration of old city centres through cultural heritage as a driver for sustainable development and economic growth.
The overall amount of funding is euro 32.786,88

The deadline for applications is November 27, 2018

Participants shall deliver a running videogame, ready for on-line play no later than December 31, 2019
You can find the contest notice with all regulations and information on the MEPA, the Public Administration E-market (Reference document n. 2087305)
Click HERE to download the Request for Applications (RFA) in pdf format
Click HERE to download Annex 1 Technical specifications and contract conditions
Click HERE to download Annex 2 Materials from the museum collections, to be used as narration materials
For further info write to incredibol@comune.bologna.it

www.incredibol.net

Outcomes of the meeting held the 9th October 2018 in Hodász, Hungary

REACH project local encounter: Preservation, re-use and management of Roma cultural heritage

The REACH local encounter was hosted by the Roma Country House in Hodász, founded in 2001, which is the first similar institution in Hungary. The country house, located in an extremely deprived sub-region in North-Eastern Hungary is not only undertaking an eminent role in preserving the Roma traditions but also in local community-building and in ensuring diverse artistic and professional activities to the children and teenagers of the village.
The event stared with the visit of the different buildings of the Country House, including:
– the small cob house that presents the living conditions of a relatively wealthier Gipsy family with traditional furniture and home utensils
– a shabby house dig into the ground that represents the living state of the 1930’s
– the building of so-called ‘string-kindergarten’ (named after the strings that had been stretched around the Gipsy slum) was founded in 1970 by Lina Rézműves, mother of Melinda Rézműves, the owner and manager of the Romy county house
– a new community building, representing the housing conditions of the 1970’s, which aims to be a tea house / community center for the local youth
– Atelier and Guest house, comprehending also a nursery room and a conference room.
After the lunch, the participants introduced themselves and their institutions and even though they came from very different professional and geographic background, a few key words and central notions appeared commonly in their discourses: in some way, all of their initiatives have been concerned with the preservation of local values, the reach-out and the involvement of the community and the eagerness to find innovative ways to remain sustainable. The introduction was followed by a very fruitful and interesting discussion during which the various aspects of sustainability and the possibilities to create more visibility for marginalized cultural heritage sites have been emphasized. The presence of the creative/cultural industry (represented by the director of Arts for Rural Development Foundation and the manager of Pro Progressione) very much enabled the recognition of new perspectives and suggestions regarding the creation of rural festivals introducing Roma culture or the nomination of the Hodász Country House to the European Roma Cultural Routes.
The encounter facilitated the eventual cooperation of Roma cultural institutions, experts in social design and social architecture and cultural managers.

Host: Melinda Rézműves, director of the Roma Country House in Hodász

Participants of the REACH project, organizers: Eszter György and Gábor Oláh (Eötvös Loránd University, Atelier Department for European Historiography and Social Sciences)

Participants:
István Gábor Molnár, president of Roma Minority Self-Government, Újpest; founder and director of Roma Local History Collection, Újpest
Éva Váradi, member, Roma Local History Collection, Újpest
Fanny Hajdú, production manager, Pro Progressione
Balázs Váradi, architect
Balázs Juhász, architect
Rita Szerencsés, project manager, MOME EcoLab
Natália Oszkó-Jakab, director, Valley of Arts Festival and Arts for Rural Development Foundation

Natália Jakab, vice-director, instructor, Gandhi High School
Sándor Tisza, director, Traditional wooden park, Csongrád
Nikoletta Orbán, technical manager, Roma Country House in Hodász
Patrik Mravik, PhD programme, Eötvös Loránd University, Atelier Department for European Historiography and Social Sciences

Other information

Abu Dhabi (UAE), 30 September - 2 October 2019

Heritage Middle East: securing the future for the past

Heritage Middle East is the new fair dedicated to museum and exhibitions technologies, and is planned to be a meeting point for institutions and companies which lead the museology sector around the world,

It will bring fresh blood to the sector by organizing side events such as conferences etc. where leading museologists, museum designers, architects art historians, conservators and other art professionals come together,

It is planned to be a destination where all artistic and cultural activities of Arabic world are planned and the future projects are discussed, becoming an international meeting point which aims to be the market for the actors of global museology sector and where they join different activities together.

It is expected to be an international landmark event that plans to host more 100 companies and institutions, and around 3.000 visitors.

Website: http://www.expoheritage.com/heritagemiddleeast/index-eng.html

Dates: 15 September – 31 October 2018

Call of Interest for Role Models launched by RURITAGE Project

RURITAGE (Rural regeneration through systemic heritage-led strategies) is a four-year EU-funded project under the Horizon 2020 programme. Started in June 2018, RURITAGE aims at transforming rural areas in sustainable development demonstration ‘laboratories’, through the enhancement of their unique Cultural and Natural Heritage potential.
In particular RURITAGE will:
– Increase knowledge about successful practices of heritage-led rural regeneration and provide tools making successful practices and solutions available and replicable.
– Identify the financial resources needed to preserve cultural heritage in rural areas, and promote the engagement of rural communities in the decision-making processes
– Enhance awareness on exploitation possibilities in Cultural and Natural Heritage sector in rural areas, providing roadmaps for the long-term sustainability of heritage-led regeneration strategies.
To do so, at first RURITAGE involved in the project 13 successful cases (Role Models) in much diversified contexts and is now in the process of analysing their good practices. To build a larger evidence base and a highly transferable approach, RURITAGE launches this call for interest for additional Role Models beyond the 13 already involved in the project.
Additional Role Models selected following this call will have the great opportunity to see their good practices promoted by RURITAGE and to share their experiences with the other Role Models and knowledge experts enabling the subsequent enhancement of the good practice in their own rural territory.
Link to RURITAGE project webpage: https://en.unesco.org/ruritage
Link to https://en.unesco.org/ruritage/call-role-model

Brussels (Belgium), 15-16 November 2018

The Fair of European Innovators in Cultural Heritage

The Fair is a wonderful occasion to see how the EU is promoting research & innovation in cultural heritage, fostering creativity and new connections across countries. The event will build on the results of the ‘Heritage and Innovation‘ conference and will focus on the next steps and contributions to the EU Action Plan on Cultural Heritage.

We will showcase the latest innovations in cultural heritage, discussing why they are developed and how they can benefit both the society and the market. We will promote stronger ties between R&I, policies and arts. Our aim is to contribute to an open cultural heritage innovation ecosystem in Europe and beyond.

Participants will have the opportunity to join the ‘Community of Innovators in Cultural Heritage‘ and its platform to engage with innovation providers, users and investors.

Essential questions are driving the event:

Who are the innovators and ‘change-makers’ in the cultural heritage domain?
What do they need in order to work better?
How to promote an open innovation ecosystem on cultural heritage?
Where is innovation produced?

We will discuss with researchers, innovation providers, policy makers, representatives from cultural institutions, start-ups and incubators, business companies, creatives, pioneers from technology and economics, European institutions representatives.

An exciting programme of plenary and breakout sessions all along the two-days, including inspirational talks, round tables, pitches from innovators, Horizon 2020 projects’ clustering and a B2B corner. We will launch the ‘Community of Innovators in Cultural Heritage’ and its platform. Artists will be performing during the event.

Participants will find an exhibition showcasing around 40 breakthrough innovations developed by EU funded R&I projects in the fields of tangible, intangible and digital cultural heritage. Innovations include advanced technologies, IT products, systems and services.

More information and Registration

Budapest, 6th October, 2018

REACH project at Budapest Ritmo Conference

The Budapest Ritmo Conference is the biggest world music forum in Central Europe, a unique opportunity for professionals to debate on trends and challenges, with a Central European focus.
In 2018, panels focused on:
– European music policies
– The UNESCO’s Music Cities initiative
– The music’s role in urban development
The conference was attended by the EU Commissioner for Culture Tibor Navracsics, several representatives of leading European music organizations like the European Music Council, the European Music Export Exchange Network and representatives of leading cities in the network, Katowice and Mannheim.
The event aimed at giving an opportunity to future European Capitals of Culture to present their plans and exchange views with experts in the field of world music.
A specific panel titled “The richest heritage, unclaimed – Roma musical tradition in the Carpathian Basin and its wider region “, was dedicated to investigate Who shall preserve the rich and diverse Roma heritage, the heritage of a people without a Country or a State and What can be done on international level.
Dr. Eszter György, from Eötvös Loránd University, contributed to enrich the debate introducing the REACH project and shared with the participants experiences and investigations carried on in the framework of the Minority Heritage pilot, focused on the promotion and support of the ROMA cultural heritage.
Conference sessions are held in English.
The venue of Budapest Ritmo Conference was Akvárium Klub, “Aranyhall”.
Link to the Conference Programme: http://budapestritmo.hu/en/ritmo-conference/

Thursday 4 October 2018, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Ars Electronica Center

Deep Space LIVE: ARS ELECTRONICA inspired by Bruegel

2019 marks the 450th anniversary of the death of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, the outstanding painter of the Dutch Renaissance. On the occasion of this anniversary, the Delegation of Flanders, the Art History Museum Vienna and Ars Electronica are showing impressive gigapixel images of his most famous works. In Deep Space 8K, the high-resolution images reveal a host of tiny details that remain hidden from the eye during normal viewing. The pictures presented for the first time by Geert Van der Snickt (AXES Research Group of University of Antwerp) and by Frederik Temmermans (IMEC and Free University of Brussels) will be expertly explained at this Deep Space LIVE. Also present are Professor Manfred Sellink, Curator of the Bruegel Exhibition and Director General of the Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, and Stefan Zeisler, Director of Visual Media at the Art History Museum Vienna.

Frederik Temmermans says “There are many little details in the Bruegel paintings that are nearly impossible to spot when looking at the paintings from a typical distance in a museum exhibition. On the Inside Bruegel website on the other hand, you can get so close that you can inspect these details till the level of individual paint strokes. For me, this shows how complementary the website is with visiting the exhibition. If I have to pick one example, I choose the castle in the The Gloomy Day. When you zoom in close, you can see so many little details such as the little windows and snow on the walls. These details are very hard to see in real with the naked eye.”

Read more comments by experts Geert Van der Snickt and Frederik Temmermans in this inteview: https://ars.electronica.art/aeblog/en/2018/10/01/deep-space-live-bruegel/

About the Event: https://ars.electronica.art/center/en/inspired-by-bruegel/

Bruegel’s works permanently expand the art-historical offer at Deep Space 8K and will also be on view on SAT October 6, 2018 as part of the Long Night of the Museums.

Kindly supported by the Delegation of Flanders and the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna

New ways to promote participatory approaches to culture.

AR Technology and Institutional heritage

A recent boom in augmented reality (AR) technology is leading educational institutions to explore new ways of teaching, where virtual scenes are mixed with real-life locations and objects. However, more research is needed in order to understand when and how AR can be leveraged to increase knowledge rather than merely entertain visitors.
In a new partnership between the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (which includes the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum) and University of Southern California, researchers will seek to understand how best to design augmented reality experiences for effective learning.
The project is funded by a new grant from the National Science Foundation totaling $2 million.
Emily Lindsey, assistant curator and excavation site director for the La Brea Tar Pits, and Benjamin Nye, the director of learning science at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies, are the principal investigators.
A key aspect of the project is to use AR to provide additional information about what visitors see to help dispel misconceptions. “Augmented reality offers a powerful medium to share how science happens at the La Brea Tar Pits,” Nye says. “AR can show hidden worlds connected to what you would normally see with your eyes, such as seeing the pits in different time periods. These can tell the story of not just what we know, but how we know what we know.”

“Certain scientific concepts, like the nature of geologic time, have historically been difficult for people to wrap their minds around,” Lindsey says. “This partnership allows us to explore the ways that new, immersive technologies can help people understand and connect with these concepts more fully.”

Source: https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-09/uosc-nhm091018.php

https://www.usc.edu/