In a world often beset by uncertainty, the quest for hope will become not just a desire but a necessity and advances in research and innovation will play a pivotal role in helping us find our way. It is in this context that the 2024 Ars Electronica Festival, set to be held in Linz, Austria, will emerge as a beacon of inspiration, exploring the theme of hope through the lens of digital art, technology, and innovation, from September 4-8th.
Beyond Truth, and towards Hope!
The whole IMPETUS team were in awe when we attended the Ars Electronica festival last year. With art and research being intertwined in so many extraordinary and thought-provoking exhibitions, art pieces, and workshops exploring aspects around the theme of “Who Owns the Truth”, in a world where fake news and deep fakes cloud our perception of reality, we all need to strive towards a world where knowledge and truth is not locked away in ivory towers.
But now, another hurdle we must now face is the search for hope in our future, which is certainly not an easy task. With everything happening in the world available to us at a touch of a button, and where we are inundated with seemingly more and more terrible news, we all must find a way to fight the urge towards falling into apathy, and see the opportunities available to us and be inspired to find practical solutions, from the depths of creativity and innovation, with this year’s conference theme being: Hope, Who Will Turn the Tide?
Unveiling Hope Through Art and Technology
The Ars Electronica Festival will transform the city of Linz into a hub of creativity and imagination, inviting artists, technologists, scientists, and thinkers from around the globe to share their visions of hope for the future with those who wish to learn more. However, the heart of the festival is POSTcity, an old post-sorting station converted into a beautiful event space, which will be the host of many of the festival activities, award ceremonies, as well as their citizen science hub.
Empowerment through citizen science
We are thrilled to be playing our part at the festival, as the three European Union Prize for Citizen Science winners will be showcased alongside the 27 projects that received an honourable mention. Here, they will be able to share how these citizen science initiatives can help provide real-world solutions to real-world problems and demonstrate how we can all play a positive role in creating a better future for everyone.
The winners of the grand prize, the Digital Communities, and the Diversity and Collaboration Awards of the EU Prize for Citizen Science will also be honoured at the Prix Ars Electronica ceremony, along with the winners of this year’s Ars Electronica The State of the Art(ist) and S+T+Arts awards. Click here to find out more about last year’s winners.
A New Hope
In a world grappling with complex challenges ranging from climate change to social inequality, the Ars Electronica Festival will serve as a reminder that hope is not just a fleeting emotion but a powerful force for driving positive change. By harnessing the power of art, technology, and collaboration, we can create a future not defined by fear and uncertainty but by hope, resilience, and possibility.
You can learn more about this year’s Ars Electronica festival by clicking here, or your can watch their latest press conference from April 22 below.
English Version
Deutsch Version.
