| Dear CultTech community,
As the year winds down, we find ourselves juggling deadlines while reflecting on all that's happened. A strange tradition, after all, but one needs to look back before stepping forward. And so, we join the ritual.
2024 has been nothing short of a whirlwind for CultTech: from Demo Days and expert sessions, filled with bold ideas and fresh perspectives — to workshops, concerts, and even the CultTech Summit, a testament to the synergy of creativity and technology. Each of these moments, big and small, would have been possible without you, our ever-growing CultTech community.
As we prepare to leap into the unknowns of 2025, let’s remember that growth is never linear, creativity never predictable, and the future never certain. But that’s what makes it all so thrilling, right?
Wishing you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and—most importantly—a world filled with curiosity and possibility.
Yours,
CultTech Association | |
|  | | CultTech Camp | | Bremen, Germany | April 24–28, 2024
From mathematicians and marine biologists, to theatre directors and composers —the inaugural CultTech Camp brought together an inspiring blend of creative professionals and scientists at Constructor University Bremen. The goal was to explore how technology—particularly AI—can enrich creative processes, knowledge production, and cultural dissemination.
Spanning four days, the Camp emphasized collaboration, fostering dialogues between participants with diverse expertise. From flash foresight sessions to hackathons, the Camp's goal was to bridge cultural and technological gaps, making solutions more human-centered and accessible. The dynamic format encouraged participants to co-develop project prototypes, laying the groundwork for educational programs and new CultTech initiatives. Some of them were presented at the CultTech Summit — but we'll get to that part later on.
Overall, the CultTech Camp featured over 20 prominent creatives and researchers, including composer Brigitta Muntendorf, robotics professor Francesco Maurelli, and visual artist Gian Maria Tosatti, among others. | | | |
|  | | CultTech at Vivatech | | Paris, May 22–25, 2024
At VivaTech 2024, the CultTech Association and Bitforms Gallery presented an exhibition that showcased artists deeply engaged with technology. Curated by Bitforms founder Steven Sacks, the show featured works by Refik Anadol, Daniel Canogar, Claudia Hart, and others, exploring how art and science intersect in the digital age.
The artworks blended analogue and digital media, using techniques like algorithmic modulation, AI-generated imagery from MRI scans, and generative animation. Each piece invited visitors to reflect on the expanding possibilities of technology and its role in creative expression.
The exhibition highlighted CultTech’s commitment to fostering dialogue between tradition and innovation, offering a thoughtful look at the future of art and technology. | | | |
|  | | AI and the Evolution of Creativity | | Panel Talk + Concert Session | ViennaUP Festival | Haus der Musik, Vienna | June 4, 2024
At this year’s ViennaUP Festival, the CultTech Association and New Renaissance Ventures explored how AI is reshaping modern creativity. A panel discussion, “AI and the Evolution of Creativity: Empowering Artistic Innovation or Undermining Human Originality?”, featured innovators like Ben James (Atlas Design) and Tonia Samsonova (Exactly.ai) debating AI's potential in the arts.
The evening concluded with a comment-concert by the X-TET ensemble, blending Mozart, Reich, and generative video art by Alexei Parkhomenko. Highlights included heart-rate sensors on musicians during Mozart’s performance and an installation linking Reich’s "Different Trains" to historical timelines. It was a powerful showcase of technology and tradition in harmony. | | | |
|  | | Klangforum Wien x CultTech: Paris | | Paris, June 2024
A concert-promenade co-produced by CultTech Association and the contemporary academic music ensemble Klangforum Wien. Here's how the event was described by Klangforum's artistic director Peter Paul Kainrath: 'We pioneer the radical experience of contemporary music by dissolving the distance between performer and spectator. The ambulatory concert tonight paves the way for new avenues of exploration and enticing adventures'.
Another prominent figure to take part in this was the highly praised Lithuanian opera-soprano Asmik Grigorian, who said she was always happy to try new formats and concepts to perform — and the concert promenade turned out to be one of them. | | | | | |
|  | | KI & Kunst | | Salzburg | August 15, 2024 | Salzburg Festival
In a bold departure from the Salzburg Festival’s traditionally classical focus, KI & Kunst offered a daring exploration of artificial intelligence and creativity. The event showcased how technology reshapes arts, blending debate, performance, and innovation.
The program featured diverse perspectives: Miller Puckette (creator of Max and Pure Data) brought a scientific lens, Stefan Kaegi (Rimini Protokoll) shared insights from documentary theatre, Gerfried Stocker (Ars Electronica) examined the societal impact of tech in art, and David Yang introduced Morfeus, an emotionally aware AI that joined the panel to answer audience questions. The evening culminated in a powerful performance by soprano Asmik Grigorian, set against a neural network-generated rendition of her voice, co-produced by CultTech Association and Voice-Swap AI. | | | |
|  | | Particolare | | Vienna, Kursalon | September 11–15, 2024
CultTech has always ventured into diverse realms—education, startup communities, and now, art. This year, the association commissioned Particolare, a project that reimagines the traditional art salon. Held in Vienna’s historic Kursalon, Particolare combined the intimacy of a curated exhibition with the dynamic energy of a cultural happening, creating an experience that was both innovative and immersive.
The format itself was unique. Instead of static displays, Particolare presented over 40 works in an open-plan scenography, where themes of time and movement flowed seamlessly through pieces by artists like Michelangelo Pistoletto, Wim Delvoye, and Angela Bulloch. Interactivity was at the heart of the exhibition, with highlights like Tatsuo Miyajima’s digital counters and Rashid Al Khalifa’s labyrinthine sculpture inviting visitors to engage with art on multiple levels.
CultTech’s involvement extended beyond commissioning. The association co-produced several key events within Particolare, including the thought-provoking talk “Live Arts in the Age of AI,” which brought together figures like Marina Davydova to explore the transformative impact of AI on live performance. Additionally, Marc Brandsma, CEO of CultTech Association, moderated “The AI Mediation Experience,” further underscoring CultTech’s role in bridging art and technology. | | | |
|  | | “Nachspiel” at VOICES Festival | | Berlin, Kühlhaus | November 2, 2024
The VOICES Festival 2024, now in its second edition, transformed Berlin into a vibrant hub for interdisciplinary performing arts, with events spread across the city. Showcasing a wide variety of artistic expressions, the festival highlighted themes ranging from classical traditions to contemporary innovation. Among its many standout moments was the opening night, “Nachspiel”, co-produced by the CultTech Association, which explored the dynamic intersection of culture and technology.
The renowned Klangforum Wien, under the direction of Philipp Grigorian, transformed Berlin’s Kühlhaus into a living, breathing performance space spread across three floors. Audiences roamed freely through the immersive promenade concert, surrounded by the hypnotic movements of butoh dancers led by Valentin Tszin. Together, the music and dance created a seamless flow of sound and motion, drawing visitors into an unforgettable sensory journey. | | | |
|  | | CultTech x Ars Electronica Award 2024 | | Vienna, MuseumsQuartier | November 5, 2024
The CultTech x Ars Electronica Award returned for its second edition in 2024, following its successful debut at the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz last year. This time, we were fortunate to present the award on what we might call our home ground: the inaugural CultTech Summit in Vienna. (More about the Summit coming up soon!)
This distinguished award celebrates initiatives that exemplify responsible technology use while fostering accessibility, sustainability, and cultural engagement. This year, the award attracted 147 submissions from 40 countries, showcasing exceptional innovation across themes like media literacy, environmental sustainability, and inclusive citizen engagement.
The winning project, Escape Fake, developed by the Polycular team, is an immersive augmented reality experience designed to combat disinformation through gamified media literacy education. By blending storytelling, puzzles, and digital interaction, the project empowers young people and educators to critically navigate the digital landscape. The jury praised its engaging and impactful approach to addressing one of the pressing challenges of our time.
An Honorary Mention was awarded to Embracing Places by Margherita Landi and Agnese Lanza. This project uses immersive technology and body practices to foster connections within communities, exploring cultural heritage through the universal gesture of a hug. | | | |
|  | | CultTech Summit | | Vienna, MuseumsQuartier | November 5–6, 2024
The first-ever CultTech Summit 2024 brought together over 650 participants from 35+ countries in Vienna, turning the city into a vibrant hub for conversations about the future of culture and technology. Organized by the CultTech Association, the Summit featured 70 speakers sharing ideas on how innovation—especially in AI—is transforming the way we create, share, and experience culture.
The program was packed with variety: panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, and an expo that showcased projects blending culture and technology in surprising ways. Highlights included Oliver Holle (Speedinvest) on why venture capital is betting on cultural startups, Hazel Savage (SoundCloud) reflecting on her journey from deeptech to music tech, and Lucia Ronchetti (Biennale Musica) exploring how art can adapt to a tech-driven future. Attendees didn’t just listen—they mingled, debated, and discovered new ways to collaborate.
What really stood out was the energy. This wasn’t just another conference—it felt like the start of something much bigger. Artists, tech founders, business leaders, and academics all found common ground, creating connections that will shape CultTech’s future. With its sold-out crowd and a refreshingly equal mix of men and women, the Summit proved that CultTech isn’t just an idea—it’s a movement that’s here to stay. | | | | | |
| | Thank you for being part of our Culture & Technology ecosystem!
We look forward to an even more exciting 2025! | | Keep in touch with us on social media: | | | |
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