Citizen's Dialogue Initiative in Work Package 2 - Concludes!

The Hot Summer Digital Art and Design Academy, a one-of-a-kind international artistic event, drew participants from Poland and Germany. Both young and seasoned artists, chosen through an open call, came together to explore and grow in the realm of digital art.

Guided by SBA transition brokers, participants engaged in a series of creative sessions. These meetings focused on digital art, computer graphics, animation, and design. The activity aimed to spark conversations between art, artists, and emerging technologies, kickstarting the formation of a transition broker network (activity 2.1).

"We received more than 65 applications. The interest in mixing citizen dialogue, environmental issues, and local identity challenges with art surpassed our expectations" Agata Grzybowska, Academy of Art in Szczecin and Media Dizajn.

The event was preceded by local workshops with citizens in March and April 2024. These took place in Wolin, our associated partner city, and in Szczecin. During these sessions, ideas and challenges were gathered in a "ConcernBox". We then mapped these onto the European Green Deal turntable/radar for the South Baltic Area (activity 2.2). Participants drew inspiration from the region's shared history - the era of Pagans, Slavs, and Vikings. They explored these ancient cultures' intuition, connection to nature, and respect for elements like water, earth, and fire, seeking lessons for today.

"This theme aligns perfectly with the identity of Rietavas, our project partner. The outcomes will also reach Lithuania, and the insights gained in Poland will shape activities in Sweden and Germany." Dr. Monika Klein.

Workshop participants worked on group projects, categorizing topics and creating a draft radar - both physical and virtual (activity 2.3). They honed their design thinking skills and worked with AI-powered programs like Midjourney, Leonardo.ai, Runway, and Firefly.

But the journey doesn't end here.

Next, SMEs will develop virtual and physical solutions to challenges, working with Quadruple helix brokers. These solutions will then be evaluated by residents. The exhibits will be enhanced with audio, in consultation with artists from the SBP region.

We invite you to the final international workshop and exhibition in Szczecin-Wolin. Save the dates - October 23-25, 2024.

Citizen Dialogue - Hot Summer Digital Art and Design Academy by the Numbers:
35 highly talented and creative participants
13 experts
30 hours of creative workshops
7 partner organizations
6 projects inspired by early medieval Wolin's history
Countless discussions, reflections, and creative idea exchanges

Media Dizajn Association and the Academy of Art in Szczecin organized the event. Partners included the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Metasy, IT Cluster, and Berlin School of Business & Innovation.

The Summer Academy of Digital Art and Design in Warsaw was part of Project T.A.B - Innovation Hubs for Tech, Art and Business, funded by the Interreg South Baltic programme.