PIKSEL

We want to express our gratitude to Ars Electronica for their letter of support for the Piksel Festival. Ars Electronica is a leading festival and center at the intersection of art, science, technology, and society—both in Europe and possibly worldwide. Thank you, Ars Electronica!

Linz, 09.12.2024

Letter of Support
PIKSEL Festival

To whom it may concern
Ms. Veronika Liebl

DECLARES

To Gisle Frøysland and Maite Cajaraville, Piksel Produksjoner, Strandgaten 207, 5004 Bergen, Norway (hereinafter referred to as PIKSEL), that our institution supports the work of PIKSEL as a pivotal organisation in the field of digital arts.

Ars Electronica brings forward a comprehensive approach in confronting techno-cultural phenomena and enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence. It its four divisions as a major festival producer, museum operator and R&D lab, Ars Electronica has amassed tremendous knowhow at the nexus of the digital transformation, science and technology, society and the arts.

Since 1979 we celebrate once a year the Ars Electronica Festival. More than 1,000 artists, scientists, developers, designers, entrepreneurs and activists are coming to Linz, Austria, to address central questions of our future. For five days, everything revolves around groundbreaking ideas and grand visions, unusual prototypes and innovative collaborations, inspiring art and groundbreaking research, extraordinary performances and irritating interventions, touching sounds and rousing concerts.

We are convinced that PIKSEL is one of Europe’s leading partners in bridging arts, science and technology, leading to novel ways of innovation as well as societal and environmental change. The knowledge created here over the past decades nurtures an important dialogue on European level and supports not only artists but contributes also to digital literacy.

Yours faithfully,

For Ars Electronica Linz GmbH & Co KG
Veronika Liebl
Managing Director

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Please sign our petition: https://www.change.org/p/petition-for-continued-support-of-piksel-festival-by-the-bergen-cultural-council

To:

@bergenhoyre

@ungehoyre

@hoyre

@apibergen

@arbeiderpartiet

@Fremskrittspartiet

@bergenslisten

@svparti

@degronne

@venstre.no

@ungevenstre

@inpartiet.no

@raudt_bergen

@senterparti

@pensjonistpartiets_ungdom

@bergen_frp

@bergen_sv

@bergenmdg

@bergensenterparti

@bergenvenstre

@bergenungevenstre

@bergenhus_ap

The letters of support keep coming in. Our dear partner in Linz, Stadtwerkstatt, has sent us a heartfelt message. Thank you, @stwst_linz

Stadtwerkstatt (STWST) is a cultural center in Linz, Austria, founded as an artists’ collective in 1979. It has played a key role in media history through significant new media projects and continues to foster artistic and citizen-generated content. The center includes four departments—New Art Contexts, Discursive Media, Club Culture, and Cafe Strom—and hosts initiatives like servus.at, focusing on hacktivism and Open Culture, and Radio FRO, which produces citizen-driven radio shows. Operating as a networked society, Stadtwerkstatt actively explores and experiments with alternatives to current network challenges.

@stwst_linz

Please sign our petition: https://www.change.org/p/petition-for-continued-support-of-piksel-festival-by-the-bergen-cultural-council

To:

@bergenhoyre

@ungehoyre

@hoyre

@apibergen

@arbeiderpartiet

@Fremskrittspartiet

@bergenslisten

@svparti

@degronne

@venstre.no

@ungevenstre

@inpartiet.no

@raudt_bergen

@senterparti

@pensjonistpartiets_ungdom

@bergen_frp

@bergen_sv

@bergenmdg

@bergensenterparti

@bergenvenstre

@bergenungevenstre

@bergenhus_ap

We want to share our heartfelt thanks to David ‘Jhave’ Johnston (Nov 22nd, 2024), Postdoctoral Researcher at the Center for Digital Narrative, University of Bergen (https://cdn.uib.no/), for his invaluable support letter.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to strongly advocate for the continued support of the Piksel Festival. As a Canadian postdoctoral researcher currently working at the University of Bergen, I bring an international perspective to the value of this unique cultural institution.

Even a decade before arriving in Bergen, I was aware of Piksel’s reputation from Canada. While digital arts and open-source software development are not my primary field of practice, Piksel’s influence extends far beyond these domains, speaking to its extraordinary impact on global creative and technological communities.

In our current global context, where corporate interests often dominate technological

development, Piksel stands as a beacon of alternative possibilities. The festival demonstrates how technology can serve the common good through open collaboration and shared knowledge. The dedication of Piksel’s community to open-source software and art represents more than just technical innovation – it exemplifies a path toward cooperative human flourishing in our digital age.

Bergen’s support of this modest yet influential festival yields remarkable returns in international prestige and cultural significance. Consider:

● Piksel’s reputation for combining technical excellence with artistic vision

● Its role in promoting collaborative, open-source practices

● The festival’s contribution to Bergen’s identity as a forward-thinking cultural center

● Its demonstration of Norwegian commitment to innovative, accessible technology

The impact of Piksel extends far beyond what can be quantified in traditional metrics. Through its dedication to open-source principles and unselfish sharing of knowledge, Piksel helps position Bergen as a visionary city that values both technological advancement and social responsibility.

For a relatively small investment, Bergen gains recognition as a hub for progressive

technological arts and collaborative innovation. The festival serves as a model for how cities can foster cultural initiatives that have global resonance while remaining true to values of openness and cooperation.

As you consider future funding allocations, I urge you to recognize Piksel’s unique role in enhancing Bergen’s international reputation and its contribution to the global dialogue about technology’s role in society. Supporting Piksel is an investment in Bergen’s future as a leader in cultural innovation and cooperative technological practices.

Sincerely,

David ‘Jhave’ Johnston, (Nov 22nd 2024)
Postdoctoral Researcher.
Center for Digital Narrative. University of Bergen https://cdn.uib.no/

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As some of you heard, Piksel’s city funding was suddenly cut without warning. Please sign our petition. Feel free to write a comment, a support letter and/or share the petition. https://www.change.org/…/petition-for-continued-support…

PIKSEL24

#InteractiveMedia

#ElectronicArt

#NewMediaArt

#Piksel

#Bergen

#InternationalNetwork

#TechnologicalFreedom

#LiveElectronics

#ExperimentalMusic

#ElectronicMusic

#LiveCoding

#FreeLibreOpenSource

#SoftwareProjects

#ArtAndPolitics

#DigitalTechnology

#OpenSourceMovement

#ArtTechEconomy

#Festival

#Exhibtions

#Workshops

#Performances

Piksel24 is supported by

@kulturradet

@kulturdir

@bergenkommune_ung

@vestlandfylke

@EFFEAResidencies

@digitalkunst.festival

@prohelvetia

@CultureMovesEurope

@COST

@nordiskkulturkontakt

In collaboration with

@asso_apo33

@stwst_linz

@newcontexts

@madlab_cy

@centerfordigitalnarrative

@unibergen

@cyprusuniversitytechnology

@aaltomedialab

@aaltouniversity

To:

Bergen Høyre

Unge Høyre

Høyre

Arbeiderpartiet i Bergen

Arbeiderpartiett

Fremskrittspartiet

Bergenslisten

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.

Please SIGN the petition

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.

https://www.change.org/p/petition-for-continued-support-of-piksel-festival-by-the-bergen-cultural-council

PIKSEL festival for kunst og fri teknologi
PIKSEL 22 years in Bergen

An international festival for society, electronic art and open source computer and technological freedom. This year festival focus on: global media chaos, geopolitical tensions, open knowledge, environmental awareness, new developments in remote performance using IoT, millitary AI, surveillance and much more.

Sign up here

Join us in bringing this vibrant event to life by volunteering in one of the following areas:

Rigging
Camera/Documentation
Exhibition Hosts
Kitchen (simple serving)
Runners/Tech Support

If you’re ready to dive in and be part of something special, we’d love to have you on board!

PIKSEL24
21-24 Nov – Bergen – Norway

Piksel is an international festival for electronic art and technological freedom and involves participants from more than a dozen countries exchanging ideas, coding, presenting art and software projects, doing workshops, performances, and discussions on the aesthetics and politics of free technologies.

You will receive a festival pass with full access to all our events, a festival t-shirt and poster, a work certificate, and an experience for life!

Or send an email to prod (AT) piksel.no with the subject line “Volunteer Piksel Festival 24.”

Looking forward to hear back from you!

Bergen, Norway 21-24 Nov– Art lovers in Bergen are buzzing with curiosity as they observe a decline in exhibitions featuring diverse groups of artists and artworks. Many galleries have shifted their focus to solo exhibitions or site-specific projects, leaving the community to ponder: where are the exhibitions that unite multiple artists and provide a broader, more panoramic perspective on contemporary themes?

Amidst this shift, Piksel, the festival for electronic art and technological freedom, continues to stand strong in this guerrilla warfare of creativity. Now in its 22nd edition, the Piksel festival is set to arrive in Bergen with a robust lineup of artists presenting a significant electronic art exhibition. The festival will feature two nights of audiovisual performances at Østre, workshops, and presentations at Studio207—a shared space located at Strandgaten 207, home to both Piksel and Borealis, as well as various venues around the city.

Piksel is where new media, art, hacking, and DIY culture converge. This year festival presents the opportunity for local artists to connect with active media labs based in Europe. Artist-researchers from APO33 (France), MADLAB (Cyprus), and STWST (Linz) will gather in Bergen to present a new edition of MEDIA()MESS, an intermedia artwork that explores the disconnections in our mediated realities through audiovisual performances, media activism, and collaborative research.

Download PressPictures
Download 1stPressNote ENGLISH (doc) (PDF)

The festival also highlights sustainable ocean research and seafaring. Three visionary artists and engineers are behind the groundbreaking Ohanda.One Project, a utopian zero-emission ocean vessel designed to revolutionize sustainable ocean research. This mobile collaborative workspace and research platform aims to connect artists, scientists, and environmental organizations, fostering innovation while promoting open knowledge and environmental awareness. The ongoing workshop at Strandgaten 207 will serve as a hub for creative minds to tackle the pressing challenges facing our oceans.

The exhibitions will showcase more than 20 artists, theming video games and poetry, artificial intelligence warfare, privacy and the deep net, society defense strategies, and the ethical and environmental impact of technology. Visitors can expect interactive installations and experimental media, alongside live electronics, witnessing a fusion of technology and art that redefines live experiences.

Join us at the Piksel Festival 2024 from the 21^st to the 24^th of November in Bergen, and be part of a transformative artistic journey that challenges perceptions and sparks dialogue around the pressing issues of our time.

PIKSEL24 HASHTAGS
#InteractiveMedia, #LiveElectronics, #ExperimentalMusic, #ElectronicMusic, #LiveCoding, #NewMediaArt, #Piksel, #ElectronicArt, #TechnologicalFreedom, #Bergen, #InternationalNetwork, #FreeLibreOpenSource, #SoftwareProjects, #Workshops, #Performances, #ArtAndPolitics, #DigitalTechnology, #OpenSourceMovement, #ArtTechEconomy

Pictures: Audiovisual performance – Δ [Delta] – Miha Godec – Østre Saturday night
Exhibition and Workshop – Ohanda.one – Juergen Neumann, Tuomo Tammenpää, Julian Priest – Studio207
Audiovisual Performance MEDIA()MESS – APO33 (France), MADLAB (Cyprus), PIKSEL (Bergen), and STWST (Linz) Østre Friday night
Interactive installation – Here’s the Information We Collect- Tansy Xiao – Østre exhibition
Interactive 3D Game – Colateral Vertigo – Chico Ortiz de Carvalho – Piksel Exhibition
Interactive installation – Bioart – Organalog – Miha Godec – Piksel exhibition
Artificial Intelligence installation – Death Mother: As Above, So Below (2024) – Tor-Finn Malum Fitje – Piksel exhibition

Piksel Festival is approaching, taking place from November 21-24, and we need enthusiastic volunteers to help make this electronic art festival a success! 

We are looking for volunteers for both preparing and rigging the days before the opening of the festival and volunteers that can help us during the festival.

Join us in bringing this vibrant event to life by volunteering in one of the following areas:

• Rigging
• Camera/Documentation
• Exhibition Hosts
• Kitchen (simple serving)
• Runners/Tech Support

If you’re ready to dive in and be part of something special, we’d love to have you on board!

To apply:

Or send an email to prod (AT) piksel.no with the subject line “Volunteer Piksel Festival 24.”

Looking forward to hear back from you!

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Date: Torsdag 26. september 2024
Time: 19:00 – 21:00
Place: Studio 207, Strandgaten 207, Bergen

Rob La Frenais in Bergen
We are excited to welcome curator and performance artist Rob La Frenais to Piksel Studio during his stay in Bergen. On September 26th, during our Stormy Thursday event, Rob will host an informal, free talk on the concept of slow travel.

Rob La Frenais, a writer and curator for over 40 years, has returned to artistic practice. He founded Performance Magazine in 1979 and was curator of The Arts Catalyst (1997-2014).

For Stormy Thursdays, he will discuss his recent slow-travel journey, part of Rewilding Cultures, retracing his 2019 route between France and Finland, focusing on changes since the pandemic and the effects of climate change. He will also screen the Let The Birds Have The Skies video.

Join Stormy Thursdays 26th September 19:00 – 21:00 to listen in on Robs thoughts.

Piksel brings IDLE to Ars Electronica’s STWST48x10 NOPE, September 6-8, 2024

Piksel is pleased to announce our participation in STWST48x10 NOPE, part of the Ars Electronica festival, taking place from September 6 to 8, 2024, in Linz, Austria. This year, Piksel will showcase IDLE, our digital platform designed for collaborative art and live performance, both as an exhibition and a presentation.

Accessible at idle.piksel.no, IDLE offers a space for visitors to engage in creative exploration, including live visual performances in the cyber salon and collaborative music-making through avatar interactions in the virtual street and left room. The platform’s virtual instruments, based on Hydra live coding for visuals and Strudel live coding for music, make it easy for users to engage with digital art tools.

IDLE features contributions from artists like Flor de Fuego, Blaz Pavlica, Malitzin Cortés, and Iván Abreu, whose works enhance the interactive experience with seamless integration of digital and physical projections. Piksel will also participate in the “NOPE Sound Performances and Talk,” a segment dedicated to the intersection of sound, performance, and digital art.

For more information, please visit STWST48x10 NOPE and NOPE Sound Performances and Talk.

Piksel24
November 21-23 2024
Bergen, Norway

Dear friends,

We are excited to announce the call for projects for the 22nd edition of the Piksel Festival!

Piksel will go hybrid again this year, so we welcome ideas for both online and physical collaborative activities. We are also interested in projects that involve the virtual gallery IDLE. If you are a 3D artist, live coder, or feel inspired by the virtual environment IDLE (Inclusive Digital Laboratory for Experimental Art), we would love to hear your ideas. IDLE includes a virtual gallery that mimics the physical Piksel Studio 207 and is connected to the IDLE IoT system, with lights, screens, and a sound system controlled by the internet (Internet of Things system). Learn more at https://idle.piksel.no/.

To make the most of our resources and create a more sustainable event, we are extending the exhibition period from the festival dates until mid-December. We encourage you to present art installations that can be built in Bergen to minimize international transport, aligning with our green strategy. Due to limited resources, we will prioritize projects from individual artists or artist collectives that can explore a specific theme through multiple artworks and workshops. We warmly encourage artists to apply to different open tracks, as this will help us better understand the full scope of your work.

Please feel free to submit your projects to any of the open tracks: presentations, workshops, concerts, installations, and PikselSavers.

Piksel offers travel to Norway, accommodation, and meals during the festival and the setup days in advance to help you realize your project.

We look forward to receiving your submissions!

!!!!!!!!!! Deadline — September 1st 2024 !!!!!!!!!!
Please use the online submit form at: https://pretalx.com/piksel24/

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Piksel is an international festival for electronic art and technological freedom. Part workshop, part festival, it is organised in Bergen, Norway, and involves participants from more than a dozen countries exchanging ideas, coding, presenting art and software projects, doing workshops, performances and discussions on the aesthetics and politics of art and free technologies.

open CALL for PROJECTS

For the exhibition and other parts of the program we currently seek projects in the following categories:

1. Installations
Projects to be included in the exhibitions. The works must be realized by the use of free and open source technologies.
For Piksel24 we specially encourage projects in the field of DIY BIOart and renewable/sustainable technologies to apply.

2. Audiovisual performance
Live art realized by the use of free software and/or open/DIY hardware.
If you are a 3D artist/live coder or feel inspired by the virtual environment IDLE, Inclusive Digital Laboratory for Experimental Art, we would like to hear your ideas. IDLE consists of a virtual gallery, mimicking the physical Piksel Studio 207 and the IDLE IoT system, lights, screen and sound system controlled by internet (Internet of Things).
https://idle.piksel.no/

3. Presentations
Innovative DIY/open hardware and audiovisual software tools or software art released under a free/open license. (Also includes presentations of
artistic projects realized using free/open technologies.)
For Piksel24 we specially encourage projects in the field of DIY BIOart and renewable/sustainable technologies to apply.

4. Workshops
Hands on workshops utilizing free software and/or open/DIY hardware for artistic use.
For Piksel24 we specially encourage projects in the field of DIY BIOart and renewable/sustainable technologies to apply.

5. PikselSavers
Video and software art based on the screensaver format – short audiovisual (non)narratives made for endless looping. Possible thematic fields includes but are not limited to: sustainable resource allocation, renewable technologies, energy harvesting, fair trade hardware, free content, open access, open data, DIY economy, shared development. The works must be realized by the use of free/open source technologies.

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Piksel24 is supported by the Municipality of Bergen, Arts Council Norway, Vestland fylkeskommune and others.

More info: https://piksel.no/

Date: Saturday May 25th
Time: 15:00 to 18:00
Location: Piksel Studio 207, Strandgaten 207, 5055 Bergen
Duration: 3 hours (including break)
Language: English (with Norwegian-speaking assistant present)
For artists and the general public (10 years and older)
Cost: Free
Led by Artists: María Castellanos and Alberto Valverde

Plants exhibit remarkable responsiveness to their environment, reacting to stimuli from humans, other organisms, objects, and various environmental factors such as temperature, sound, and light.

In this workshop, led by the artists María Castellanos and Alberto Valverde , sensors are utilized to monitor the plant’s surroundings in real-time, facilitated by a bespoke web platform tailored for this project. Through this exploration, we aim to deepen our understanding of the intricate interactions between plants and their environment, fostering awareness of the shared coexistence between living entities.

To reserve a place, send an email to piksel24(at)piksel.no with the subject line: Piksel Workshop – Monitoring the Environment of Plants. Kindly include in the email the names of all participants you are registering.