The Ars Electronica Futurelab collaborates with diverse partners from the fields of business, culture, research, and education. We conduct joint research to help organizations break out of conventional frameworks and promote creative innovation through the artistic exploration of ideas for the future of society. The outcomes are as multifaceted as our partners, encompassing novel technologies and prototypes, cultural initiatives and exhibitions, educational tools and programs, and more.
This customizable process by the Futurelab supports the creation of innovative works tailored to the visions we jointly explore with our partners.
Under Futurelab guidance, this special unit of Ars Electronica puts educational and cultural programs, consulting, and media art into practice for Japan.
Our approach involves providing inspiration, exploring creative questions, envisioning the future, prototyping tangible experiences, fostering dialogue, and drawing inspiration from societal feedback. These principles are executed through Ars Electronica’s methodologies: beginning with the Art Thinking Method in the conceptualization phase, followed by our Art Science Research, development and prototyping, and open dialogue with society. This is facilitated through collaboration with the Ars Electronica Festival and Center.
At the Futurelab, our interdisciplinary team of specialists in art, science, and technology develops technological prototypes and also creates cultural programs, initiatives, and platforms. We take on roles such as directing and curating exhibitions and events that connect and foster creativity and innovation globally. Additionally, we invite and support a creative community of artists, researchers, and innovators worldwide. One of the ways we connect across continents is through our collaborations in Ars Electronica Japan.
Best Practice
BUSINESS
Whether it’s a push for creativity to forge sustainable future visions or out-of-the-box thinking to solve concrete challenges – Futurelab’s Creative Business Innovation approach leads to ever-new outcomes. To engage in a discourse with a broad public, we create visualization of complex data, mixed reality solutions, visionary applications for a company’s existing hard- and software, participatory art installations, architectural interventions, experiments in co-creation with AI or microorganisms, and much more.
Future Ink: Life Ink with Maki Namekawa; photo: Jochen Manz / Wacom Co., Ltd.
Future Teams; photo: Bettina Gangl
Re-imagining the mobility of the future; photo: tom mesic
Merck 350 Curiosity Space; photo: Merck KGaA / Eva Speith
Stream of Hope; photo: NTT
Art Thinking School; photo: Denise Hirtenfelder
Communication with autonomous cars; photo: Mercedes-Benz
CULTURE
The Ars Electronica Futurelab sets up exhibitions that range from AI to climate change and citizen science, with custom-built interactive pieces. We develop innovative cultural heritage works – with intricate stereoscopic 3D experiences of historical models and art treasures, expanded with otherwise hidden details and storytelling. The Futurelab is also part of many arts and music festivals, showcasing the potential of co-creating music with our creative AI Ricercar, accompanied by large orchestras and mesmerizing visuals. We also bring to life international events that connect society, culture, art, and science.
Faust VR; photo: Friedrich Bachinger
NHM Deck 50; photo: Birgit Cakir
Understanding AI; photo: Florian Voggeneder
Virtual Crib; photo: Robert Bauernhansl
Matsudo International Science Art Festival; photo: Ayami Kawashima
Glockner.Luft.Raum; photo: Nicolas Naveau
Mahler-Unfinished; photo: Jürgen Grünwald
Mariendom digital, photo: Denise Hirtenfelder
RESEARCH
For more than 25 years, the Ars Electronica Futurelab has pushed the boundaries of technological possibilities: from our invention of drone art with swarms+art and the 3D multi-user experience room Deep Space 8K to the novel “Cinematic Anatomy x Deep Space” application to our multi-faceted work in Origami robotics. Parts of our research are topics such as creative AI, big data, virtual and augmented realities, brain-computer interfaces, bio art, and much more. We do research with diverse companies, universities, and scientific institutions, and regularly collaborate on EU projects.
CoBot Studio; photo: Martin Hieslmair
Data Art & Science Project; photo: Ars Electronica Futurelab
SHARESPACE; photo: Raphael Schaumburg-Lippe
Immersify; photo: Ars Electronica / Robert Bauernhansl
AI5production; photo: AI5
Dataspace: Global impacts of the Russian war on Ukraine; photo: Raphael Schaumburg-Lippe
EDUCATION
The Ars Electronica Futurelab assists a multitude of partners in educational work. Different lab members serve as guests lecturers at universities worldwide while students visit the Futurelab for workshops, seminars and project-based mentoring sessions – presenting the outcome at events like the Ars Electronica Festival. The Futurelab also comes up with innovative learning experiences for education providers – be it the unique JKU medSPACE for teaching virtual anatomy to medical students or projects like the STEAM truck missimo and the Coral Bike for school children.
Cinematic Anatomy x Deep Space; photo: Tom Mesic
missimo; photo: Magdalena Sick-Leitner
Coral Bike; photo: Christina Häusler
FOUNDING LAB Fall Term; photo: Martin Hieslmair
Ars Electronica Futurelab Academy: Northeastern University; photo: Peter Holzkorn
Media Spaces & Generative Art / University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria – Digital Arts; photo: vog.photo
Funding
Important for large companies as well as SMEs: As part of Ars Electronica, the Futurelab is listed as a non-university research institution with the FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency). Joint research projects can therefore potentially receive at least partial public funding. We are also continuously implementing various projects funded by EU institutions with partners from business, art, and culture. Since 2022, the Ars Electronica Futurelab is also part of AI5production, a project funded by the Austrian Ministry of Economics and the EU Commission that supports manufacturing companies in Austria with free customized feasibility studies on the topics of industrial assistance systems as well as digital design and AI for industry 5.0.
Artists
We at the Ars Electronica Futurelab are always excited to work with artistic minds from different disciplines. In order to cooperate, the expenses of the artist itself as well as the lab’s involvement have to be covered from a production/research budget since the laboratory itself cannot sustain residencies. Another way for artists to collaborate is through the wide variety of Open Calls by the Ars Electronica and its partners that offer great opportunities for artists worldwide. For the latest information, check out the Ars Electronica Open Calls website!
