From September 28 to October 3, the media arts and technology festival “UPDATE: Democratic Technologies” will take place in Liepāja as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme. The festival will bring together artists, designers, engineers, researchers, and students from across Europe to explore through creative practice how technology impacts society and how it can be made more accessible, transparent, and inclusive.
This year, the festival focuses on the question of technological neutrality: technologies shape how we communicate, learn, and govern, while simultaneously serving as instruments of power consolidation or social inclusion. Throughout the week, the festival will host hands-on workshops, expert masterclasses, a symposium, and an exhibition.
During the festival week, participants will work in intensive interdisciplinary workshops and masterclasses led by local and international experts. The creative processes will explore and apply virtual, augmented, and extended reality (VR/AR/XR), 3D scanning and photogrammetry for cultural heritage preservation, motion capture suits, interactive data interfaces, and soundscapes, as well as bio-art using bacteria and plants in interactive installations.
Events Open to the Public
- Monday, September 28, at 17:00 at Pegaza Pagalms (Kuršu street 20) – Festival opening featuring an artist and researcher symposium alongside sound art performances. Special guest: sound artist Felicity Mangan (Germany), who creates sensory vibration performances accessible also to audiences with hearing impairments.
- Friday, October 2, at 14:00 at the RTU Liepāja Academy Art Research Lab (MPLab, Kūrmājas pr. 13, basement, entrance from the back) – Public presentations of festival workshop outcomes and prototypes.
- Friday, October 2, at 20:00 at the digital culture centre “Savādā realitāte” (Roņu iela 8a) – Concert and performances. Special guests: Latvian experimental electronic music producer and sound artist EIII and Estonian sound artist Sander Saarmets.
- Saturday, October 3, from 12:00 to 16:00 at MPLab – “Demo Day,” where visitors can explore an exhibition of workshop results and take part in creative and tech activities led by local and international artists. Open to everyone – kids, young people, and anyone curious about technology. Free entry, no registration needed.
The media arts and technology festival UPDATE is implemented as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, with funding provided by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, the Liepāja City Municipality, South Kurzeme Municipality, and Kuldīga Municipality. The festival is organised by the Liepāja media artists’ association ASTE. Art, Science, Technology, Education (https://aste.gallery) and the RTU Liepāja Academy.
The “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” project is delivered by the foundation “Liepāja 2027 Foundation”, Liepāja City Municipality, and official partners – South Kurzeme Municipality and Kuldīga Municipality. Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture. The “Liepāja 2027” programme is supported by general partner for environmental education and sustainability AS “CleanR Grupa”, general partner for air mobility and international communication AS “Air Baltic Corporation”, legal partner SIA “Sorainen ZAB”, ground mobility partner SIA “Lux Express Latvia”, and maritime mobility and international communication partner SIA “Stena Line”. Media partners: VSIA “Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs”, SIA “Žurnāls Santa”, SIA “Tvnet grupa”, AS “Kurzemes Radio”.
ASTE’s activities are supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation (VKKF) and the Liepāja Culture Department.
More information: https://www.updatefestival.lv/
Contacts: Maija Demitere (maija.demitere@rtu.lv, +371 29948430)
