The Ars Electronica Futurelab Ideas Expedition is an internal competition of ideas within the Ars Electronica Futurelab intended to creatively explore the technological and social circumstances of our time. Introduced in 2020, the Ideas Expedition aims to encourage internal talents and collaborations by allowing the laboratory’s team members to use their creativity and expertise for developing ideas for future projects without limitation to existing research areas or fields of activities of the Futurelab.
It is designed as a yearly open call for projects of all forms: from performances, scientific works, interactive sound environments, software projects, design concepts, installations, books, musical compositions, games to art — every idea is welcome, as long as it is positioned against the background of the Ars Electronica Futurelab and the Ars Electronica, especially considering its relevance for and impact on society’s future and the further development of the Ars Electronica Futurelab. All Ars Electronica Futurelab members can apply for funding of a project idea, and collaboration among team members is highly encouraged. Once a project has been accepted by the jury, the Explorers are mentored by experienced project managers throughout the project realization.
The jury is made up of the three Ars Electronica Futurelab directors, Horst Hörtner, Roland Haring and Hideaki Ogawa, all three providing years of experience in recognizing the potential of project ideas. If need be, the jury is allowed to invite additional jurors, opening the selection process to other members of the laboratory, members of the Ars Electronica and even external experts from the fields of arts and science.
Although this year’s Ars Electronica Futurelab Ideas Expedition was the first one and a bit of a trial run, more than 20 project ideas were submitted. The jury had a hard time picking the most promising project ideas and in a long review process decided on three projects to be realized. Besides the winners, the jury awarded six other projects with honorary mentions. These are projects that were deemed convincing in their potential but the creators were encouraged to keep refining their ideas. All of these project ideas are exhibited as part of this year’s festival.
