Digital meets Culture

Weimar (Germany), 10-12 August 2018

Genius Loci Weimar festival – Make the Walls Talk!

Genius Loci Weimar is an annual audiovisual art festival, video mapping and façade projections held in August. It is preceded by a competition, and the winner works will be showcased at the festival. In addition to videomappers, videographers and motion designers, the competition is also specifically aimed at architects, urban developers, preservationists, lighting designers, exhibition designers, media artists, scenographers, communication designers, as well as visionaries from any and all genres.

Genius Loci Weimar 2017 Documentary Film from MXWendler on Vimeo.

The 2018 edition takes place on 10-12 August, with a symposium on the 12th. Action artists, video designers, media designers, architects and musicians will gather in Weimar to participate in their work at the festival. During the festival weekend, three building facades in Weimar will be screened with selected video projects. Between 9:30 pm and midnight, international artists project their fifteen-minute contributions in the city center.

Genius Loci Weimar is expanding the festival repertoire to include the themes that surround media architecture. The performance format – a video show projected on the facade and repeated every half-hour – is broadly unchanged, but the questions being posed are of a different nature. While for previous video performances it has been sufficient to take the form of one-time production within the framework of a festival for projection art, the work that will be beamed onto the building of the University Library will be developed as a simulation of a permanent media architecture installation.

The concept for this innovative competition format emerged from the discourse on videomapping and media architecture that was pursued during Genius Loci Talk 2017.

12.08.2017 / Genius Loci Weimar / Stadtkirche St. Peter und Paul (Herderkirche) / “MIRROR” Visuals: Kento Tomiyoshi, Musik: Makoto Shozu / Foto: Henry Sowinski

The format is intended to address the potentials and limitations of media architecture, and to reflect issues without fixed expectations: which content, which narration genuinely enhances the value, or is any communicative surplus value required at all, or is it sufficient to present a purely (re-)aestheticising work? Where is the threshold between augmentation and nuisance, which visual worlds succeed in reaching which target groups, how does media architecture function in the historical context, and where are the functional and aesthetic potentials?

While previous video performances could take the form of one-time performances within the framework of a projection art festival, the projection onto the building of the university library must also serve as a concept for and visualisation of a permanent media architecture installation.

More info about the festival: http://www.genius-loci-weimar.org/en/

Cover image: 12.08.2017 / Genius Loci Weimar / Cranachhaus am Markt / »CHIAROSCURO«, Desilence, Visuals: Tatiana Halbach & Søren Christensen / Foto: Henry Sowinski

The National Historical Museum hosted the latest transcription marathon for handwritten documents of WWI

Europeana 1914-1918 Transcribathon in Athens

The National Historical Museum in Athens, in collaboration with Europeana 1914-1918, the Facts & Files International Initiative and PostScriptum, organized a manuscript transcript competition from the period of the First World War in the framework of the international campaign “Transcribathon Europeana 1914-1918” which organizes similar Marathon transcriptions of war documents throughout Europe.

The event is organized on the occasion of the International Museum Day (18/5) of ICOM – Hellenic National Committee, whose theme is “Museums and (networks) this year. New Approaches, New Audience”, and took place in the Old Parliament Hall, supported by the General Archives of the State, the Great Music Library of Greece “Lilian Voudouri” and the Center for the History of Thessaloniki.

Participants performed real work of transcription from digitized documents that contain handwritten information, often difficult to deciphrate, and they learned the techniques used by experts to access information sources, as well as details of the era of World War I. The trascriptions will be then published on Europeana.eu portal, and will be a permanent resource for further historical research and education.

The winners are teams: Athens2, Athens1 and Athens5 in the categories Transcription, Enrichments and Presentation. All participants of the Athens Transcribathon 2018 jointly transcribed over 1100000 characters of 769 documents. Such collective and participative work supports the dissemination of our cultural heritage and the enhancement of the accessibility of knowledge.

Dubrovnik (Croatia), 26-28 September 2018

Best in Heritage with IMAGINES

As the award-giving programmes around the world announced their laureates category by category in 2017, the Best in Heritage diligently collected all the information and generated the annual list of the best practices in the field of museums, heritage and conservation. Out of some 300 prize-winners from 45 award schemes, the Best in Heritage Advisory Board approved a selection of the most innovative and advanced candidates, which were then invited to the 2018 conference in Dubrovnik.

Featuring altogether 42 presentations of a wide scope of laureates coming from 4 continents, the conference will, for the 17th time, bring authors of most exceptional achievements together with the professional audience and the public. The gathering will start with the IMAGINES event, which focuses on the use of New Technologies and Multimedia, and will feature Q&A sessions, 2 keynotes and a “Spotlight” lecture following the theme of 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage.

In addition to having an ideal setting for networking with colleagues from all over the globe, the conference will have an abundance of cultural, social and gastronomic events accompanying the programme. The moderators, last year’s winners and the audience will act as a Jury and vote for a project with a truly change-making potential for each of the two events: “The Project of Influence” for the year 2018.

The conference is organised in partnership with Europa Nostra (with support of Creative Europe programme) and ICOM (International Council of Museums), is under patronage of The City of Dubrovnik, Ministry of culture of Republic of Croatia, supported by the United States Embassy in Croatia and sponsored by Meyvaert Glass Engineering. Local partner is Dubrovnik Museums.

Links:

Programme and registration: https://www.thebestinheritage.com/conference

Featured laureates: https://www.thebestinheritage.com/featuring

Past presentations archive: http://presentations.thebestinheritage.com/

Eötvös Loránd University, REACH Partner, in visit to eight universities promoting future cooperations

Cultural Heritage Mission in Japan

Between 7 and 15 April 2018, Gábor Sonkoly, the academic coordinator of Minority Heritage Pilot of REACH project, visited eight Japanese universities (Buddhist Postgraduate College, Josai University, Meiji University, Nishogakusha University in Tokyo, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Otani University, Ristumeikan University in Kyoto and Kobe University in Kobe) in order to establish research and educational cooperation in the field of participative cultural heritage scholarship. He was the member of the official delegation of the Eötvös Loránd University including the rector and the vice-rector for international affairs. The perspectives of future cooperation in cultural heritage studies proved to be particularly promising with Kobe University and the Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.

Use the events function to discover “RE-designing Access to Cultural Heritage” conference!

REACH Conference in GUIDE@HAND Budapest smartphone application!

The e-Learning department of the institute for computer science and control, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, MTA SZTAKI has contributed to get closer to REACH opening conference by charging the upcoming event on its new software for smart phones, tablets,iOS and android platforms.
The App, that can be used offline, it is available in English, German and Hungarian languages.
– Download GUIDE@HAND from http://www.guideathand.com
– Install the App to your mobile device
– Click on the “events” button to get any type of information regarding the REACH interesting programme of the conference: data sheets, venue, map and reminder service.
The eLearning department of MTA SZTAKI is a REACH Project partner and its main activities are focused on:
– Applied research, professional consultancy
– Web and mobile application development, innovation
– Courseware development, training
– Co-ordination and participation in complex domestic and EU projects
For more details:
http://www.guideathand.com

Brixen (Italy), 5-6 July 2018

EARTH2018: Digital Environments for Education, Arts and Heritage

The meanings that are defined in relation to the concept of heritage as well as the methods and tools for exploring cultural heritage have changed and expanded. In this context, information technologies offer new semantic spaces and action boundaries to experiment with different approaches to heritage education. This determines an increasingly complex intertwining of media and environments with the consequence that any artifact can be configured as a digital ecosystem. In this sense, virtual museums, multimedia installations, interactive technological platforms, as well as apps, serious games and immersive realities, are some of the possible variations of the digital environment in which to place innovative modes of education to tangible and intangible heritage. Collective and connective intelligences enter into a relationship to build new experiences with art and heritage towards an awareness of the protection of the creative expressions of civilizations.

CALL FOR PAPERS – submission deadline 12 May

In relation to what is described, we expect contributions that present case studies in the field of heritage education in digital environments, innovative experiments in the field of digital representation and methodological reflections on the use of IT tools in various educational contexts.

Digital representation technologies
Virtual Museums and Virtual Exhibitions
Virtual, Augmented or Mixed Reality
Digital Heritage and Digital Arts
3d scan / print for museums and exhibitions
Art and Heritage Education
Teaching and technologies for museum

VR and AR technologies in schools
Education through digital media
Interactive digital publishing
Psychology of perception and attention
Psychology of arts and communication
Economy of culture
Serious game and gamification

More information: https://earth.events.unibz.it/

the conference takes place from 21 to 24 November 2018 in Girona, Catalunya.

Registration is open for the 15th edition of Image and Research Conference

img © Ajuntament de Girona. CRDI / Joan Serra Mustich. Passeig General Mendoza 7-10 pis, Massafont Costals, Martí. CC-BY-NC-ND via Europeana

The 15th edition of Image and Research Conference will take place from 21 to 24 November 2018 in Girona, Catalunya.

In addition to a full programme of keynotes speeches, presentations and workshops, the conference includes a discussion space to reflect on the possibility of bringing photographic and audiovisual archives closer to new audiences. On the one hand, the prominence of the image in today’s society and in various fields has been established, whether information, creation or interpersonal communication. On the other hand, the conversion of archives into digital spaces allows many barriers imposed by the media itself to be broken down and, at the same time, offers a series of possibilities for the dissemination and re-use that may be of interest to a much wider audience.

Program, schedule and workshops at the following link: http://www.girona.cat/web/sgdap/docs/JornadesIR/Imatge_Recerca_programa_2-ENG.pdf

Conference registration: http://www.girona.cat/sgdap/cat/jornades_inscripcions-ENG.php

Workshops registration: http://www.girona.cat/sgdap/cat/jornades_inscripcions_tallers-ENG.php

Save the date: 10-11 May 2018, Budapest, Hungary

Get involved! REACH opening conference “Resilient Cultural Heritage and Communities in Europe”

Everything’s ready for the upcoming REACH project Opening Conference, and the banner is already displayed on the facade of the Hungarian National Museum: from 10th to 11th of May, high-level experts will meet in Budapest to discuss and compare successful examples of participatory processes and researches facing the theme of “Resilient Cultural Heritage and Communities in Europe“.
Focus topics:
social cohesion, social inequality, minority heritage, preservation and management of Cultural Heritage, rural heritage, small town heritage, institutional heritage.
What to expect:
– Interesting programme of speeches
– Round table on resilience and participation in Cultural Heritage
– Posters and videos session where participants are invited to deliver a brief pitch presenting their own projects.
– An Europeana Collection Day for digitization of stories and memorabilia of people and families who experienced travelling and migration in their lives.
– A Networking Session for European projects in Cultural Heritage as a periodic concertation event supporting a sustainable cooperation.
– A contribution by a EC representative.
From the conference will emerge a manifesto containing the basic guidelines and principles of REACH
Where: Hungarian National Museum, 1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 14–16 Hungary
Who: the Conference is organized by ELTE University, Eotvos Lora Tudomanyegyetem and it is part of the programme of the European Year of Cultural Heritage
REACH Conference website: http://reach-culture.eu/budapestconference2018
Registration: http://reach-culture.eu/events/opening-conference-in-budapest/registration
Full Programme: http://reach-culture.eu/budapestconference2018/programme

Conference contacts:
Eszter György, esztergy29@caesar.elte.hu; +3630 278 27 31
Gábor Oláh, gabor.olah@yahoo.es; +3630 456 62 98

27-29 of April 2018, Granada, Spain

3rd General Assembly of “Iniciativa Comunales”

From 27 to 29 of April, the MEMOLab Laboratory, from the University of Granada, collaborated in the organization of the General Assembly of Communal Initiatives.
Different stakeholders met at the workshop sharing their own experiences about communal management of the rural areas in Spain.
In the first day of programme they discovered the ancient water supply system of the town centre of Granada, irrigation ditches and water sources. The tour was led by Prof. José María Martín Civantos, from University of Granada, REACH Project partner.
In the framework of this full agenda, it has been faced the thematic of environmental conflict management, exemplifying experiences of good practices and tools for conflicts prevention and mediation.
The last day of programme was planned a visit to the little village of Alpujarra, in Sierra Nevada in order to learn about its ancient system of water management. This small community has been cooperating since 2014 with MEMOLA Project (http://memolaproject.eu/es) and the University of Granada.
Communal Initiatives is an Association including territories and areas conserved by local communities. The communal are waters, lands, rights and uses collectively governed by a community. The objective of communal management is to promote the good coexistence of the neighbours, an equitable use of resources and to ensure their good status for future generations.During the Assembly, the members analysed the current conditions of the collectives that managed the natural resources and the territory. They set a plan of communication to visualize the agrarian heritage and the communal management. They will do also a record of collectives that manages natural resources.Read more about the 3rd “Iniciativas Comunales” Assembly here
More information on Iniciativa Comunales at http://www.icomunales.org
Agenda of the 3rd General Assembly

Amman (Jordan), 2-3 December 2018

e-AGE18 / “CAPACITY FOR TRANSFORMATION”

Integrating Arab e-infrastructure in a Global Environment, e-AGE, is an annual international conference organized by the Arab States Research and Education Network, ASREN. Since the launch of ASREN in December 2010 at the League of Arab States, it was decided to organize e-AGE every year in one of the Arab countries. e-AGE is in line with ASREN’s major objectives that are related to dissemination and awareness, promotion of research collaboration and joint activities, and establishment of research networks in the Arab region and worldwide.

In 2018, e-AGE will be held under the patronage of HE Professor Adel Tweissi, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in Amman, Jordan during 2-3 December 2018. In e-AGE18, the focus will be on demonstrated successes in using the research and education e-Infrastructures at national, regional and global levels. In short words, e-AGE18 is coming with “CAPACITY FOR TRANSFORMATION” as the main theme of the conference and all activities are centered on it.

e-AGE18 will include events, workshops and meetings centered around the following themes:

The 11th Event on Euro-Mediterranean e-Infrastructure
The 8th annual meeting of ASREN
EUMEDCONNECT3 Project meeting
AfricaConnect2 Project meeting
Internet2 Middle East SIG Meetings
Workshops dedicated for e-Infrastructures users
Technical Workshops on R&E networking

Moreover, special sessions will be dedicated to specific domains, mainly focusing on experiences in connectivity and e-Infrastructure, applications and services across a variety of scientific domains. It is also important to show how research infrastructure creates tangible benefits to communities and collaborations. It is still critical to demonstrate how research connectivity can promote collaboration and innovation. Different discussions will be stimulated during e-AGE to drive outcomes and concrete results on practical steps towards developing a regional e-Infrastructure.

A call for participation is currently open.

Website: http://asrenorg.net/eage18/