T6 Ecosystems continues its active participation in the Ars Electronica Festival, Europe’s largest gathering focused on the intersection of art, technology, and society. This annual event, held in early September in Linz, Austria, brings together artists, scientists, developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and activists from all over the world to come together, showcase their work and engage in dialogue.
This year the festival’s theme was “HOPE – who will turn the tide”. The 2024 edition of the festival embraced the theme “HOPE – Who Will Turn the Tide” attracting contributors from 67 countries and over 112,000 visitors across 18 locations in Linz.
T6 Ecosystems and STARTS EC(H)O: technological development, democracy, and social justice
As part of the STARTS EC(H)O project, Stella Diakou and Ilaria Lener from T6 Ecosystems took part in the STARTS Family meeting, which gathered participants from all STARTS initiatives. The meeting focused on updates and potential synergies among partners, with special attention given to the upcoming “STARTS Book,” a publication that will outline the STARTS Ecosystem’s achievements, lessons learned and share best practices.
During STARTS Day, the session titled “Reclaim, Relearn, Resist: Strategies and Practices for the Future of Digital” focused on the development of digital technologies. This discussion gave all the attendees plenty of food for thought on technological development and its connection to democracy and social justice. It also provided insights on how Europe can lead in shaping a more inclusive narrative for technological progress.
T6 researchers also joined the new Town Hall meeting format, designed to foster connections between diverse sectors – academic institutions, public bodies, cultural organisations, creative industries and the private sector – from sustainable industries to innovative technologies. During a session dedicated to Collaborative Practices in Art + Science, led by Masha Zolotova, stakeholders shared ideas on how to unite various backgrounds and experiences to generate impactful collaborations.
Finally, the S+T+ARTS Exhibition, located at Postcity and accessible to the public, celebrated a diverse array of projects developed within the STARTS Ecosystem. Co-curator Masha Zolotova noted that “the STARTS exhibition sheds light on the impressive and wide-ranging roles of artistic and creative communities, showcasing their potential to act as inspirations and driving forces during these times and beyond. From individual artists to larger institutional efforts, the exhibition highlights projects and initiatives that are actively working to bring about change through their innovative ideas and actions“.
T6 Ecosystems and IMPETUS: Advancing Citizen Science
From September 3rd to 7th, T6 Ecosystems’ researchers Antonella Passani and Andrea Ancona attended the festival as part of the IMPETUS team. This year’s event offered a dynamic platform for the consortium to further its efforts in citizen science, including a two-day project meeting to align activities and foster stronger collaboration across the team. T6 Ecosystems showcased its latest findings from the project’s Impact Assessment analysis and led an interactive session on exploitation strategies for the project’s outcomes.
The festival allowed the T6 team to connect with winners of the European Union Prize for Citizen Science, celebrating the collaborative, sustainable, and fair shaping of the future through citizen science initiatives. The European Union Prize for Citizen Science is central within the IMPETUS project, contributing to shaping a flourishing setting for Citizen Science at the European level, along with the cascading calls funding supporting the development of Citizen Science Initiatives.
A Commitment to Innovation and Collaboration
The Ars Electronica Festival 2024 underscored T6 Ecosystems’ dedication to driving innovation and collaboration at the nexus of art, science, and technology. With its commitment to projects like STARTS ECHO and IMPETUS, T6 continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of citizen science and fostering impactful partnerships in Europe and beyond.
In addition to participating in project meetings and networking events, T6 researchers attended several standout moments during the festival. The Opening Ceremony, held at St. Mary’s Cathedral, was a blend of music, light, and sound, celebrating not only the start of the festival but also the 200th birthday of composer Anton Bruckner. Performances by artists, scientists, and musicians captivated the audience in a fitting tribute to Bruckner and the festival’s innovative spirit.
Another key moment was the Prix Ars Electronica Award Ceremony, held at the Design Center Linz, where T6 researchers were honoured to attend and to cheer on the many winners. The 2024 winners of the Golden Nicas in the categories “New Animation Art”, “Interactive Art+” and “u19 – create your world” were presented together with winners of the STARTS Prize, the STARTS Africa Prize and the European Union Prize for Citizen Science. The STARTS Prize, which this year is under the umbrella project STARTS ECHO, celebrates Innovation at the Nexus of Science, Technology, and the ARTS.
