CultTech Residency 2025
Exploring bold ideas at the intersection of art and technology
Project Presentation at CultTech Lab / Linz, 2025
In 2025, CultTech Residency welcomed a new cohort of artists, technologists, and cultural practitioners to explore bold ideas at the intersection of art and technology.

9 project teams were selected to join the CultTech Lab — working with leading tech partners to develop performative prototypes.

An even larger group joined the Educational Program to explore methods, tools, and questions through weekly sessions and peer exchange.
“
CultTech broadens the horizon and expands the frame — so artists don’t have to confine themselves to a specific medium. It’s a space for real experimentation.
Jasmine
Why it mattered:
CultTech Residency wasn’t just a program — it was a catalyst. A space where unfinished ideas turned into action, and artists stepped into unfamiliar territory with curiosity and intent.

Some explored AI or spatial sound for the first time. Others finally fused two parts of their practice — the artistic and the technological. What united them was purpose. Technology wasn’t the end goal, but a collaborator — stretching the frame, deepening the work, and reshaping the process.

This was a place for risk, not polish. For collective creation across borders and disciplines. Creativity didn’t start with tools — it started with intention.
“
After all, creativity is sparked by intention — an intentional idea, a musical thought, a purpose for the product. Through your skills, you bring it to life. AI tools might change how we realize these creative ideas. Like learning programming or digital sequencing once was, there’s a learning process here too. Some skills may become obsolete, but we’ll have to see. You can’t just say “stop” — you have to embrace it and ride the wave.
Florin
Results of Open Call 2025
  • 69
    applications received
  • 26
    countries represented
  • 9
    tech partners
  • 9
    CultTech Lab projects
  • 30+
    joined the educational program
  • 1
    creative on site camp
Program Stages 2025
till April, 15
till April, 15
Open Call for participation in CultTech Residency
April, 30
April, 30
Results of Jury Selection
The jury selects up to 6 teams for participation in CultTech Lab for the further development of proposed project ideas.
May – September
May – September
Educational program
for all applicants
Teams attend online program lectures and participate in interactive workshops led by tech experts and producers.
May – July
May – July
CultTech Lab (online)
Selected teams work on project implementation together with mentors from partner tech companies and producer curators.
June, 27–30
June, 27–30
CultTech Lab Camp
Up to 3 teams are invited to an in-person CultTech Lab Camp to experience focused creative work, personalized technical mentorship sessions and collaborative exchanges with fellow artists.
July, 14
July, 14
Online Pitching
All teams in the CultTech Lab pitch their performative project sketches (up to 10 minutes) online to demonstrate potential for further development.
July, 20
July, 20
Final Selection for Production & Presentation
2 winning teams will receive a €3,000 production grant and showcase their performative sketches at the CultTech Summit 2025.
October, 22–23
October, 22–23
CultTech Summit 2025
  • 2 performative sketches presentation on stage
  • All CultTech Lab participating projects are discussed at the dedicated event
Key Highlights — CultTech Lab
It Takes 2+1 to Waltz
by Michael Hoi Ming Du, Jasmy Chieh-Hsuan Chen & Obed King Him Cheung
A performative installation blending traditional Viennese waltz and real-time AI-driven sound design. As two people move through space, their physical proximity, movement, and presence dynamically shape the music — transforming the dance floor into a living composition.
The piece explores connection, consent, and "with-ness" in contemporary culture — asking, what does it mean to dance with someone, not at them?

Matched with: Sony CSL
Technology: Diff-A-Riff — AI-powered musical stem generator
Developed in CultTech Lab

Motion tracking · Unity engine · Real-time stem layering

The project uses CSL’s toolset to blend classical waltz structures with modern genres — shifting style and emotion based on how participants move together.