S+T+ARTS AIR is a project that harnesses the power of art, science, and technology to address the pressing challenges facing our society. It encapsulates the shared essence and concerns of all Europeans and everything on our planet – the air we breathe.
Making the invisible visible.
Air symbolizes environmental quality, a common space for interaction, and a medium for expression that transcends borders and social divisions. It signifies sustainability, influencing the quality of life, relationships, and the utilization of our ecosystem. Furthermore, air represents beauty, a unique and ephemeral element that shapes our environments and interactions.
In today’s technology-driven world, where citizen participation and human connection often take a backseat, the European Commission recognizes the vital role of cultural and creative industries in enhancing Europe’s competitiveness and driving innovation. By integrating art, science, and technology, we can unlock the transformative potential of the cultural sector, stimulating critical thinking and offering fresh perspectives on the future of our society in the face of technological advancements and environmental impacts.
The consortium consists of eight partners from five EU countries, working in technology, research, industry, and culture with the ultimate goal to establish four S+T+ARTS Centers and Hubs in Germany, Spain, Italy (our lab), and Slovenia, serving as catalysts for artistic experiments in residencies. We will facilitate knowledge transfer sessions, workshops, and the production of the AIR festival, providing a platform for artists and stakeholders to showcase their innovative solutions and ideas.
These centers will promote the concept of art-driven innovation in the domain of air and facilitate artistic experiments through residencies. They will foster citizen participation, critical thinking, prevention capacity, and resilience by facilitating collaborative reflections on the theme of air. Additionally, they will create a new space for impactful research and innovation through horizontal collaborations among the arts, science, and technology.
The winners of the projects are all artists who, in collaboration with scientists and researchers, are exploring the multifaceted concept of air and its profound impact on our lives and environment. Through their creative visions and interdisciplinary approaches, they are pushing the boundaries of art, science, and technology to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
Each project delves into one of two compelling directions: Resilient interspecies urban ecosystems and Human-AI ecosystems. These themes challenge our understanding of sustainable futures, offering innovative and artistic perspectives on how we can navigate and shape our world.
The artists are not only pushing the boundaries of creativity but also collaborating closely with scientists to bring their visions to life. These interdisciplinary collaborations aim to make the invisible visible, fostering deeper connections between human experiences and the natural and technological environments that surround us.
Through their experiments, we witness the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration to inspire new ideas, foster knowledge transfer, and create a lasting impact on our world.