It is with deep disappointment that we have learned of the Bergen City Council’s plans to withdraw funding from Piksel Festival, effective from next year. Piksel has been a pioneer of digital art and technological experimentation in Bergen for over two decades, contributing significantly to both the local and international cultural landscape.
Over the years, Piksel has aligned closely with the City Council’s stated goals of promoting cultural diversity, fostering Bergen’s international profile, and engaging the public in innovative forms of media and electronic arts. Contrary to these priorities, however, the proposed discontinuation of funding not only threatens Piksel’s future but also jeopardizes Bergen’s reputation as a forward-thinking city that embraces cutting-edge artistic forms.
The withdrawal of financial support for Piksel sends a message at odds with Bergen’s vision of a diverse and vibrant cultural sector. It stands to dismantle years of carefully nurtured networks, programming, and practices developed with the Council’s support, which have brought over 1,000 international artists to a diverse audience to Bergen. Piksel’s model of collaboration has been instrumental in providing space for experimental art and in strengthening the city’s reputation as a European hub for creative digital and media arts.
In the 22 years of its existence, Piksel has successfully bridged art and technology through events and installations, broadening cultural participation by pioneering programs for kids to learn electronics in creative ways, or by making digital art accessible to individuals with limited mobility through the Inclusive Digital Laboratory for Art Experimentation (IDLE), a project supported by the Council and Kulturdirektoratet for more than three years and now at risk of disappearing.
We firmly believe that the abrupt removal of funding will disrupt the progress Bergen has made towards establishing a lively and innovative cultural scene. The loss of Piksel is likely to diminish the visibility and growth of Bergen’s cultural sector, limiting opportunities for emerging artists and creatives whose contributions have made Bergen’s culture richer and more diverse.
We urgently ask the Bergen City Council to reconsider its decision and continue its support for Piksel, recognizing it as a key partner in realizing the city’s goals for cultural innovation and community engagement. Without Piksel, Bergen’s cultural ecosystem risks becoming narrower and less representative of the diverse voices that have made it a thriving hub for contemporary arts.
Please sign this petition to call on the Bergen City Council to secure a future for Piksel and, with it, the diverse and dynamic cultural identity of Bergen.
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