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TRACK
Memory and Identity. Reconnection Through AI
For artists, researchers, technologists, and interdisciplinary teams
Partners

Focus: Artistic Research on Reconnecting Memory and Cultural Identity through AI

Migration and cultural displacement reshape how memory and identity are carried across languages, geographies, and digital environments.

This track invites participants to use AI as a tool for artistic research, developing performative, spatial, and digital works that reactivate memory as a living, evolving process.

Possible Project Outcomes:

  • Performative works

  • Immersive installations

  • AI-driven films

  • Participatory digital archives

  • Generative memory systems

Industry Challenge Statement
Memory is not simply a record of the past; it is the material from which identity is formed. It shapes how we understand ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we locate ourselves in the world.

In conditions of migration and sudden displacement, memory becomes unstable. Archives disappear. Narratives fracture. Cultural continuity weakens. Lives unfold across languages, geographies, and digital environments where fragments of the past must be reconstructed.

Memory today is also increasingly mediated by technology. Artificial Intelligence now influences how memories are reconstructed, translated, visualized, and archived.

Yet many AI-based memory projects remain superficial — generating nostalgic images without engaging the deeper cultural and emotional processes of remembrance, loss, and reinterpretation.

Memory invites reconstruction — but meaningful tools for reconnection are still emerging.
The Challenge
We are looking for proposals that apply Artificial Intelligence to reconnect memory and cultural identity.

Not AI-animated nostalgia — but projects that move beyond technological experimentation to consider the cultural and emotional consequences of migration.

We invite participants to approach this challenge through artistic research — engaging memory as a dynamic cultural process shaped by relationships, context, time, and technology, and exploring its complexity beyond purely structured methods.

Projects may address:
  • Reconstructing fragmented memory
    Example: ReCollection

    An interactive AI installation that turns whispered memories into generative images.
    Explore Example
  • Translating personal and collective memory into new forms
    Example: Synthetic Memories

    A project that turns detailed memory descriptions into AI-generated images and short videos.
    Explore Example
  • Working critically with archives and cultural data
    Example: Archive Dreaming

    An immersive installation that uses AI to turn archival documents into a three-dimensional visual environment.
    Explore Example
Why
Memory is dynamic, relational, and vulnerable.

Technology increasingly mediates how it is formed and preserved.

By critically integrating AI into processes of remembrance, we aim to support new cultural tools that reconnect fragmented identities and expand collective understanding in a world shaped by migration.
Memory Track Team
  • Anastasia Bonch-Osmolovskaya
    Track Lead
    Educational Director of the CultTech Association, responsible for the conceptual and structural design of the CultTech Lab program. Anastasia develops the learning framework, translates curatorial ideas into an operational program, and works on building the Lab ecosystem connecting artists, technologists, and cultural institutions.
  • Nina Todres
    Art curator
    Immersive producer with a background in anthropology, working at the intersection of research, XR, and interactive media. Her practice explores how immersive technologies translate complex social and environmental research into accessible experiential narratives. Her VR project Talk of the Trees, exploring deforestation and ecological awareness, premiered at the Open City Documentary Festival.
  • Alexey Parkhomenko
    Tech curator
    A New media artist and creative technologist working with real-time digital worlds, light, sound, and interactive systems. His practice explores the intersection of the digital and the physical, translating philosophical and experiential ideas into immersive technological formats. He collaborates with musicians, dancers, and brands, presenting work across venues in Berlin, Munich, and Vienna.
  • Bistra Kumbaroska
    Learning Lead
    Social innovator, poet, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of culture, belonging, technology, and civic engagement. Founder of larger.world, a studio for complex conversations, and co-creator of Heartbeats Inco, an agency focused on impact and systems change. Bistra has designed and hosted more than 150 learning journeys that create spaces for reflection, dialogue, and shared discovery.
  • Gabriella Chihan Stanley
    Artistic advisor, Shrine
    Behavioural systems designer working at the intersection of technology, culture, and human experience. Gabriella co-founded the award-winning XR studio vrisch, leading immersive projects in cultural, environmental, and social-impact contexts that combine storytelling, XR, and ethical design. She is also the founder of shrine, an initiative shaped by questions of memory, identity, and belonging across cultures.
  • Axel Dietrich
    Tech advisor, Shrine
    Creative technologist and entrepreneur specializing in human-centered design, XR, and applied immersive technologies. As co-founder of the XR studio vrisch, Axel has led the technical development of award-winning immersive projects across culture, education, and public engagement. His work focuses on translating complex ideas into robust, accessible technological systems.
  • Irina Tokareva
    Producer
    Experienced manager and producer with over 10 years in international relations, event production, and project supervision. Specializes in managing complex cultural collaborations, developing international partnerships, and curating large-scale programmes.
  • Anastasia Shikina
    CultTech Lab Weekly Director
    Video producer, editor, and filmmaker with 7+ years of experience creating documentaries, commercials, and branded content across international markets. Specializes in end-to-end video production and crafting engaging visual stories for digital platforms.
Fees & Grants
School Participation
  • Participation in the School phase requires a fee of €450.
  • Grants covering up to 100% of the participation fee are available, provided by the CultTech Association and Track Partners.
Studio Participation
  • Participation in the Studio phase is free of charge for teams selected to continue.
  • Studio teams receive production grants, tailored to the needs of each project.
Program Benefits
CultTech Weekly
public short-form series following Lab projects from concept to prototype
  • Sustained public visibility throughout the program
  • Early audience building around your project
  • Audience feedback to test ideas in real time
  • Expanded professional network and collaboration opportunities
  • A strong public narrative to position your work
  • Media-ready documentation for future grants, partners, and showcases
School Phase
Online development phase refining ideas into clear project plans with mentors and peer exchange
  • A two-month guided program with art and tech curators
  • Dedicated support from the Lab’s learning team and invited experts
  • A vibrant interdisciplinary network fostering dialogue and collaborative problem-solving
  • Development of the concept into a production-ready project plan
  • One-year membership in the CultTech Association
  • Certificate of completion
  • CultTech Summit pass
Studio Phase
Production phase turning validated concepts into showcase-ready prototypes
  • A 4-day Studio Camp (travel and accommodation covered)
  • Dedicated producer support
  • Presentation at the CultTech Summit (travel and accommodation covered)
  • Additional presentation opportunities at partner platforms
  • Production grants
How to Apply
CultTech Lab is open to individuals and teams worldwide, with no restrictions regarding age, gender, education, or professional status. Applications are submitted via Google Form. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a short online interview.

Applications should include:
  • Project Description
    • A project proposal responding to the industrial challenge statement, outlining the concept and intended format
    • A brief description of the technical approach
    • A short roadmap for the project’s development
    • A short motivation statement from each team member
  • Team Background
    • Roles within the project and relevant experience
    • Links to previous work (portfolio, projects, websites)
    • Links to online profiles (e.g., LinkedIn)
Apply for Memory Track
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Have a question?

You may find the answer in our FAQ page. If not, feel free to contact us at lab@culttech.at