Digital meets Culture

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

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/

Birmingham (UK); 19-21 November 2018

DCDC2018 Discovering Collections, Discovering Communities / Memory and Transformation

About the conference

Discovering Collections, Discovering Communities is a collaborative conference series between The National Archives and Research Libraries UK. Now in its sixth year, DCDC brings together colleagues from across the archive, library, museum and academic sectors to explore shared opportunities, collective challenges, and to discuss how each sector can work more effectively with one another.

Open and inclusive in its ethos, the DCDC conferences bring together an unparalleled variety of experiences drawn from across the UK, Europe, and further afield. It includes contributions from individuals of all career stages, from established academics and practitioners, to those just starting out. Its keynote speakers are drawn from across the heritage and academic sectors, are leaders in their field, and inspire debate and discussion amongst its hundreds of delegates. The annual conference has now become a well-established event on the cultural, heritage and academic calendars.

DCDC18 will be held on 19-21 November 2018 at the BCEC (Birmingham Conference and Events Centre), Birmingham.

The theme for 2018 edition is Memory and Transformation.

Website: http://dcdcconference.com/

DCDC18 call for papers – deadline 27 April 2018

DCDC18 will consider the interplay between memory and transformation within heritage organisations and their wider impact on the cultural landscape. We will seek to examine how, through developing new points of entry to collections, archives, libraries, museums and galleries, we can work collaboratively with each other and academic organisations to meet strategic ambitions. Further, we will explore how to meaningfully engage with different audiences and communities whose far reaching interests can often have an equally transformational impact on our own professional cultures.

Memory is a thread running through every collection: their content, their production, their physicality, their journey and current use. The memories held in collections can both connect us with the past, immersing us in experiences through the eyes of others, and inform the future through innovative research and the development of new ideas, technology, science and art. The important role that scientific collections and heritage organisations have played in the health of the human mind, including through reminiscence therapies and supporting mental wellness, are examples of their potential and value to individuals and society.

Read the full call for papers

img. Birmingham Skyline from the west Selfridges Birmingham Town Hall St Phillip’s Cathedral University of Birmingham Alpha Tower, CC BY-SA 3.0. via Wikipedia https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham#/media/File:BirminghamMontage.jpg

increasing quality of existing content available through Europeana, increasing awareness and usage of Europeana

Europeana CEF Call for Generic Services open until 15th May

The 2018 CEF Telecom Europeana call for proposals will be open until 15 May 2018. The open call info are available here: the call is looking for projects that will support cultural institutions to increase the amount of high quality content and metadata provided to Europeana, as well as to increase awareness and usage of Europeana.

The objective is to provide support to cultural institutions and other public and private partners to increase the amount of content and metadata accessible through Europeana that is of high quality and suitable for reuse, as well as to increase awareness and usage of Europeana. To fulfil this objective, actions funded by this call must include activities such as:

Increasing the quality of existing content available through Europeana;
Enhancing the structure, richness and multilingual capacity of existing metadata to increase discoverability and use of the material;
Making available new high quality material with rich item descriptions that has potential to generate high audience engagement and reuse. If necessary, this may include limited and targeted digitisation of content that can be made available for free reuse;
Providing expert support to cultural institutions to improve the quality of the content and metadata that they make available, including capacity building among institutions and professionals;
Raising awareness and use of Europeana across Europe, through applications, collections or exhibitions highlighting content of particular interest for specific audiences or through user engagement activities.

Full details of the Europeana call are available here.

Linz (Austria) 6-10 September 2018

2018 Ars Electronica Festival: Error – The Art of Imperfection

From Artificial Intelligence to Social Intelligence

To err is human, it’s said. Could that be why we’re incessantly striving for perfection and steadfastly believe we can attain it with technology and science, and in spite of the fact that there is nothing that we fear more than being eliminated by a world of machinery that functions perfectly well without us?

How can we rethink our very ambivalent relationship to technology as the driving force for configuring our future, and what errors should we perhaps not repeat in the process?

The call for social intelligence is now being juxtaposed to our enthusiasm for the digital world and artificial intelligence.

We are propagating the courage to welcome imperfection, since isn’t that quite possibly what will always set us apart from the machines!

2018 Ars Electronica Festival

Ars Electronica is once again summoning hundreds of artists, scientists, engineers, designers, technologists, entrepreneurs and social activists worldwide to gather in Linz September 6-10 to jointly investigate current technological and social interdependencies and their potential future manifestations. All of this will take place in public and together with people from all walks of life, since a defining aim of Ars Electronica is to take leave of the classic premises devoted to culture and scholarship and to stage an internationally unique festival of art, technology and society amidst the public sphere in downtown Linz. The festival locations are arrayed through the heart of the inner city—the former postal service logistics facility adjacent to the train station, St. Mary’s Cathedral, the OK Center for Contemporary Art, Moviemento and CENTRAL cinemas, Linz Art University, the LENTOS Art Museum, the Brucknerhaus, Ars Electronica Center and Anton Bruckner Private University. At these diverse venues, ideas and visions, works of art and prototypes, performances and concerts engender temporary settings conducive to leeway and latitude, and provide inspiration to the many festivalgoers who come to partake of them.

… in POSTCITY

The festival hub will once again be POSTCITY. Ars Electronica gets one more opportunity to breathe life into this mothballed postal service logistics facility and use it as a venue for such festival highlights as the Big Concert Night with Markus Poschner conducting the Bruckner Orchestra, the u19 – CREATE YOUR WORLD festival, and a jam-packed lineup of conferences featuring stellar participants. Plus, POSTCITY offers Linz-based Ars Electronica yet another chance to position itself as one of the world’s largest and most interesting international fairs for creativity and innovation, and thus to network with associations, enterprises and educational institutions throughout the world.

More information: https://www.aec.at/error/en/program/