Extended Worlds
October 24 – 29, 2023
Museum of Contemporary Art and Kontejner, Zagreb, Croatia
Organised by Kontejner (Croatia)

The XR Camp in Zagreb featured a diverse array of activities designed to explore the potential of XR in artistic and creative contexts. 
The programme included performances, workshops, panels, artist talks, and networking events, aimed at fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among participants. 

Notable performances included interactive installations such as Viktorija, created by Željko Beljan and Rebecca Merlic, and a participatory piece titled SCANAUDIENCE by the SCHNITT collective, which engaged the audience in the creation of sound and visuals. 

The camp also hosted a hackathon focused on “Recycling the A.I.,” where participants from the School of Applied Arts and Design of Zagreb collaborated during 3 days to create virtual environments using HTML and AI tools. 

Key speakers included Sander Veenhof, who lectured on the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) into everyday life, and Christina “XaosPrincess” Kinne, who discussed the creation of AI-driven chatbots for social VR. Activities included performances such as “Viktorija” by Željko Beljan and Rebecca Merlic, and “Elusive Matter” by Martin Messier, showcasing interactive and immersive experiences. 

Other panels addressed topics such as educational practices in XR and best practices for producing XR artworks, featuring experts from organisations like Ars Electronica, V2_, Dark Euphoria, and MUTEK. 

Artists also presented their works and shared insights during talks, including the Xsenofemme collective, which led workshops on body commodification in the context of NFTs.

The camp aimed to foster critical discussions around the ethical implications and creative potential of XR technologies, encouraging participants to engage in collaborative processes while exploring new narratives in digital art.
The camp attracted over 100 participants, including artists, industry professionals, and students, and reached an audience of more than 1000 individuals.

BetaCamp XR
July 4 – 6, 2024
Online
Organised collaboratively by L.E.V. Festival (Spain) and iMAL (Belgium)

The BetaCamp XR focused on creating a virtual community centered around XR, art, and technology. It featured a diverse programme that included presentations from 14 artists, 3 curators, and 3 members of the XR industry, as well as discussions on innovative topics such as the intersection of art and technology. 

Notable speakers included La Turbo Avedon, who discussed the impact of automation in creative practices, and the team from “we are the AI resynthesizers,” exploring the role of artificial intelligence in artistic processes. The camp also featured immersive VR tours of artists’ studios and facilitated networking opportunities, allowing participants to engage with the creative community. 

Through a series of panels and presentations, the camp aimed to address the challenges and potential of XR technologies, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among attendees. The camp successfully engaged over 200 participants from various backgrounds, demonstrating the potential of online platforms to foster XR discussions.

RiT in Marseille
November 6 – 8, 2024
La Friche La Belle de Mai, Marseille, France
Organised by CHRONIQUES (France)

This event welcomed 42 participants from 11 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Ukraine. The diverse group consisted of artists, producers, and creative technologists. 

The programme featured a variety of activities aimed at fostering discussions and peer-to-peer learning in the realm of XR. 
Notable activities included one panel discussion, two workshops, a 100% female pitch session with five presentations, a round table discussion, three expert talks, and visits to local studios and exhibitions. 

The panel titled “Artificial Intelligence” was moderated by Adrien Cornelissen and included speakers such as Hugo Scurto, Hadrien Gautrot, and Anne Le Gall, who explored the integration of generative AI into creative processes. 

The workshops provided hands-on learning experiences, while the pitch session allowed participants to present their XR projects, emphasising feminism, collaboration, identity, and artistic expression. 

Additionally, participants enjoyed networking opportunities during the XR Lunch (with a talk by Maud Clavier, President of the French XR Council) and the XR Camp finale, where presentations and discussions took place. 

On the third day, a round table discussion focused on VR as a medium in the arts, featuring speakers like Annika Boll and Silvana Callegari, who addressed the artistic potential and implications of VR technology. 

The Camp was part of the larger Biennial of Digital Imaginaries organised by Chroniques, enhancing its visibility and outreach. The XR Camp in Marseille successfully combined various formats and activities, encouraging meaningful exchanges among professionals in the XR community while addressing critical topics such as inclusivity, sustainability, and the ethical considerations of new technologies.

The XR camps have proven to be a significant success for the Realities in Transition project. They have not only showcased the potential of XR technologies to foster creative collaboration but also laid the foundation for a sustainable and interconnected European XR community. Participants have benefited from knowledge sharing, peer-to-peer learning, and networking opportunities that will extend beyond the events themselves.

The camps have actively engaged discussions around inclusivity, artistic expression, and the ethical considerations of new technologies, ensuring that diverse voices are represented in the evolving landscape of XR.

We invite you to stay connected with the Realities in Transition community. Follow our activities, subscribe to our newsletter and social media (Instagram & LinkedIn), and explore the wealth of resources available on our website.