Call for projects. Interactivos?’12 Ljubljana. Obsolete Technologies of the Future

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This workshop is part of Studiolab, a 3-year Europe-wide initiative that merges the artist's studio with the research lab. Funded by the EC Seventh Framework Programme in 2011, Studiolab is a European network that provides a platform for creative projects that bridge divides between science, art and design.

Interactivos?'12 Ljubljana: Obsolete Technologies of the Future

Ljudmila = ljubljana digital media lab seeks proposals for its first ever intensive and mind-blowing workshop on Interactivos?'12: Ljubljana for art & tech & scientists professionals. Ljubljana's edition of the workshop will be dedicated to explorations of Obsolete Technologies of the Future, collaborative prototyping vol. 1, rethinking the qualities of outdated technology and making way for a long-term, sustainable usage of technology in our environment in the decades to come.

Interactivos?'12 Ljubljana will enable participants to build prototypes in the fields of art and technology. We are interested in receiving proposals that explore the potential of technological solutions on the aesthetic or practical level. Having in mind that anyone who aims at being contemporary is already dated, we are especially interested in submissions which make use of existing or outdated technologies in an entirely unexpected way to encourage novel approaches, promote sustainability, and explore possibilities in the far future. The outdated technologies have not been pushed aside and rendered insignificant merely for pragmatic, but also for economic and political reasons. The topic suggests – but is not limited to – dealing with increasing lack of natural resources, and ecological questions in urban environments and overlooked technologies of the past. It could also be connected to media hacking and subverting the automatism of the behaviour in the society, suggesting new forms of social networking that are not dependent on existing corporative hierarchies. 

Alongside artworks, innovative installations, collaborative practices, we will also encourage thinking differently about how we set up products and services for our demands and everyday living. A glimpse into the past makes us understand the reasons behind technological development and what role art plays in promoting or challenging the existing modes of behaviour. Is it possible for an artwork to hack the system from within? Is it possible to think outside of our mindframes? To think outside of the binary code? To view the world in nano scale? To explore our perception beyond the virtual and the real? To imagine moving fast without an exhaust engine? To explore how the web should operate? To turn off  and tune in?

Orientation of the projects

Suggested areas of focus include:

• Projects that suggest different usages of existing urban technological infrastructures
• Rethinking outdated technologies and recycling the computer and IT wasteland.
• Projects which allow people to interact with technology to provoke new ways of perceiving the surrounding, the self, the visual, the material, and stimulate aesthetic experience.
• Particular attention will be paid to projects which promote open source communities, collaborative work and collective modes of behavior.
• Playing with data - submissions for works, which connect data forms and physically embody data streams, bridging ‘on’ and ‘off’ line worlds.
• Products and services that provide sustainable solutions for our needs, including the use of open data, data mash ups and remixes.

We are seeking proposals for:

• Installations (interactive, responsive, generative)
• Performances (participatory, gesticular, dance)
• Visualisations (moving images, generative, projections, holograms)
• Free Software (FLOSS) / Open Hardware / Open Design / Services / Start-ups / Apps / Devices 

Submission Guidelines:

From among the submissions received a maximum of 6 projects will be selected to be produced in a two-week workshop at Ljudmila in September 2012. The chosen projects will be developed with the aid of several advisors and assistants in addition to a large group of collaborators.

The open call is aimed at designers, artists, engineers, coders, sociologists, architects, city planners, teachers, programmers, psychologists, journalists, environmentalists, or to any other person interested in the theme of the workshop.

Proposals may be presented by individuals or groups. Each participant or team may present as many projects as they wish.

Selected projects must be open to the participation of other interested collaborators who will be able to contribute to the production of the pieces during the development of the workshop. 

Therefore, there are two levels of involvement in the workshop: 

1 - as a project leader

2 - as a collaborator in any one of the selected projects

Once the projects have been selected, the second step in the process will involve a new call for those people who would like to participate in the production of the projects. The call for collaborators will be open from 2 July 2012 at Medialab-Prado's website.

General Information of the Workshop

The Interactivos?'12 Ljubljana workshop aims to be a collective platform for research, production, and learning, offering support in developing the selected projects. The projects will be carried out in multidisciplinary groups comprised of the project leaders joined by interested collaborators, with conceptual and technical advice from the advisors. Ljudmila, Medialab-Prado and SGMK will provide materials for the development of selected projects, as much as possible.

During the workshop, various activities will be scheduled, such as talks, presentations, seminars or specific mini-workshops. Work days will be adapted to the specific needs of the projects in conjunction with the activities ongoing at Ljudmila. 

Opening hours: 10 am – 8 pm 

Given that the main objectives of the workshop are to foster the development, distribution, and free access to new approaches and new technology tools, participants are encouraged to prepare proper documentation for the developed projects, both during and after the workshop, and to publish the results and source code under licenses that grant access and distribution of the knowledge produced during the workshop.

Technical Requirements

The evaluation team will assess submitted projects for technical feasibility – successful projects should have clearly specified technical and spatial requirements. Should the evaluation team have doubts about any technical requirements, they will contact the authors of the proposal.

Projects will be carried out and presented at Ljudmila. Ljudmila will provide basic equipment and the means to produce the selected projects, pending prior application from the proposal’s author(s). Access and use of Ljudmila’s technical equipment will be supervised by a coordinator from the space. Expenses for material or equipment not planned for or approved in advance will not be covered by the organisers (Ljudmila, Medialab-Prado and SGMK), but will be the expense of the project leaders. The organisers will provide Web hosting as needed for the projects and also the tools and platforms required by participants to properly document the process and the results.

Ljudmila, Medialab-Prado and SGMK promote the use of free software tools and encourage participants of the workshop to work with shared and open code applications and environments.

Travel and Lodging Aid

Pending final approval of the submitted project’s application, Ljudmila and Medialab-Prado will provide lodging for participants residing outside of Ljubljana and will cover travel expenses to Ljubljana. In the case of collectives, Ljudmila and Medialab-Prado will cover travel expenses for just one member of the group.

Submissions

All those interested in taking part in the workshop must fill in and submit the online submission form 

Open Call closes: June 8 20, 2012
Selection of proposals: June 30, 2012
Call for collaborators: From July 2, 2012
Development of projects (workshop): September 5 – 15, 2012

For further information please contact interactivos[at]medialab-prado.es or delavnica[at]ljudmila.org.

Final Decision

The evaluation team will comprise the workshop advisors as well as Ljudmila, Medialab-Prado and SGMK staff. Projects will be judged based on: 

• Project quality
• Suitability to the call for projects
• Technical and logistical feasibility; clarity in the explanation of the project
• Combination of various fields of knowledge
• Willingness to collaborate with others in project development
• Use of open software tools and licenses that grant access to the processes and the results
• Educational value

Notification of Selected projects

Selected projects will be announced on June 30, 2012. Applicants will receive notification via email.

Project Promotion

The finished projects will be presented to the public by their developers on the final day of the workshop. In addition, the projects and/or related documentation will be published on Ljudmila, Medialab-Prado, SGMK and Studiolabproject.eu websites.

Obligations

The developers of selected projects agree to attend the workshop from 5 to 15 September 2012 and to finish and document their projects, as much as possible during this time.

Projects carried out will be the property of their author(s), although whenever said-projects are shown at festivals or exhibits, and whenever images of said-projects are reproduced in catalogues or websites, their relation with the Interactivos? workshop carried out at Ljudmila should be acknowledged and the names of the people who collaborated in developing the projects should also be credited. The projects exhibited may be shown in Ljudmila, Medialab-Prado, SGMK and Studiolab's website and printed catalogues.

Entry constitutes acceptance of all contest rules.

Interactivos?'12 Ljubljana is a project that has been developed as part of the Studiolab project. Studiolab is a 3-year project that merges the artist's studio with the research lab. Funded by the EC Seventh Framework Programme in 2011, Studiolab is a European network that provides a platform for creative projects that bridge divides between science, art and design. However, the views and opinions here expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Community and the Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

Interactivos?'12 Ljubljana is initiated by Robertina Šebjanič (programme coordinator of educational and artistic activities at Ljudmila), Jani Pirnat (programme coordinator of artistic activities at Ljudmila),Dr Marc R. Dusseiller (President of SGMK) and Medialab-Prado team.

Interactivos?'12 Ljubljana is supported by:

Embassy of Spain in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia, the Municipality of Ljubljana, Slovenia, and the EC Seventh Framework Programme in 2011

Submission Form