DIGITAL on STAGE – Mobility Programme

Latest update: 24 Mar 2025

Dates of Mobility:

First week: 29. 6. 2025–5. 7. 2025

Second week: 6. 7. 2025–12. 7. 2025

Place:

Multimedia Center KIBLA, Maribor, Slovenia

Deadline to apply:

April 4, 2025

Apply to the Digital on Stage Mobility Programme!

What is Digital on Stage?

Digital on Stage is a 3-year Creative Europe project involving artists, production houses, digital developers and culture experts from all corners of Europe. Our goal is to innovate the performing arts sector across Europe by promoting digital performances and supporting artists and stage houses in adopting new technologies.

The Covid pandemic altered the performing arts sector, causing many artists to turn to new techniques to support their work and stay connected to their audiences. These techniques range from Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence to increased use of streaming platforms, robots etc. DOS envisages a series of activities aimed at upskilling the representatives of the performing arts sector, including workshops, artistic residencies and mobility activities, and supporting small stage productions. The project aims to support the dissemination of digital performing arts, reaching audiences and showcasing innovative ways to engage with performances. Read more about the project here: http://www.digitalonstage.eu

The DOS project partners are:

Intercult – Sweden, Cultuurconnect – Belgium, KIBLA – Slovenia, CapoTrave/Kilowatt – Italy, MMMAD – Spain, CUBE – Greece.

Who is KIBLA?

We are a national and international non-governmental institution in the segmented field of creative industries, interdisciplinary, intermedia and multimedia art, visual arts, AV, music, culture and informal education. It is an institution that presents, organizes, produces, co-produces, documents and archives cultural-artistic projects, as well as electronic and printed publications in the TOX series (since 1995) and FOLIO magazine (since 2009). The Multimedia Center MMC KIBLA was founded on July 4 1996, and has been operating since 1998 as the Association for culture and education ACE KIBLA in Maribor, Slovenia. In almost 30 years of existence, the institution, with its three locations, developed into a pivotal happening point of the city, the region, the country, and wider, as a place of contemporary arts and culture, informal education, creative use of the emerging ICT and interdisciplinary practices. Having three different venue types (smaller artKIT gallery on city main square, medium-sized KiBela gallery as our main venue and KIBLA PORTAL at the old industrial hall, measuring over 500m².

At our venues, you can check out exhibitions, musical, AV and other forms of artistic performances, attend literary evenings, discussions, contemporary art, music and literary festivals and their interdisciplinary variants, or get in touch with the current issues and problematic in the fields of culture, humanism, modern technologies and informal educational activities.

About the Mobility

The DOS partners are organizing a mobility programme to foster international collaboration, exchange of know-how and cultural and creative ideas to generate innovative projects for co-production and cocreation in the digital performing arts reality.

This mobility programme will feature a structured implementation to exchange creative and artistic ideas, fostering the development of digital productions with a pan-European impact and a strong focus on creativity. Participants will collaborate with each other and work and learn with workshop mentors. We provide connections to the art scene and aim at helping in facilitating artistic production during the mobility programme.

The Mobility Programme consists of 1 working week per participant, with duration of 5 days (+2 days of travelling), and you may choose your week of preference.

What kind of activities do we foresee?

During the implementation of this mobility programme, participants will have the opportunity to work with experienced mentors and researching diverse fields of using digital tools in performing arts.

Programme will be implemented in English through a cross-sectoral approach, with different activities: lectures, workshops, panel discussions, design thinking sessions for professionals, peer review sessions and others. With these activities, we would like to merge theory and practice, ideas and solutions, experiences of mentors with energy of participants.

Here are some of the topics we will address:

Using various realities in stage performances

Through a hands-on and theoretical approach, participants will experiment with blending physical, digital and imaginary realms to create immersive and innovative theatrical experiences. Drawing on the power of virtual reality (VR), also AR and other multimedia technologies, this topic will encourage participants to push the boundaries of traditional stage design and storytelling:

- How can stage performances combine the real world with virtual, augmented, or imagined dimensions? We will explore how to seamlessly intertwine different layers of reality to heighten emotional impact and audience engagement.
- Introduction to VR, AR and other techniques to augment live performances and give participants a practical understanding of how these technologies can transform a traditional set into a multi-dimensional experience.
- Learn how to design environments, characters, and scenes that navigate through these various realities, creating rich, dynamic storytelling moments.
How does AI enhance/enrich the production in performing arts

We will dive into the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in modern performing arts, offering participants an in-depth look at how AI can revolutionize production processes and artistic expression. From automating technical aspects to inspiring new forms of creativity, AI is rapidly becoming an integral tool for performers, designers, directors, and technicians.

In this session, we will:

- Learn how AI can assist in generating new choreography, music composition, visual design, robotics etc. We’ll discuss AI tools that can work alongside human creativity, enhancing artistic decision-making and experimentation.
- Discover how AI is used to achieve stunning effects with greater precision and ease, examine the role of AI in performance itself, from creating characters to facilitating live performances.
- Discuss the ethical implications of AI in the performing arts, including issues of authorship, originality, and the role of human artists in an AI-driven world.
Is 3D world the new reality?

As technology rapidly evolves, we are witnessing the rise of immersive 3D worlds that blur the line between physical and digital realities. We will talk about the concept of the 3D world as the “new reality” and examine how virtual environments are reshaping our perception, interaction, and engagement with both the real and the imagined. Through a blend of theory and practice, we will:

- Gain an understanding of the evolution of 3D worlds, from early virtual spaces to fully immersive environments in VR, AR, and mixed-reality experiences. We will discuss how these technologies are transforming industries from entertainment and art to education and social interaction – how will immersive technologies redefine our concepts of reality, space, and presence in the coming years?
- Learn how to create and navigate virtual Worlds, from designing virtual stages for performances to crafting interactive environments for digital storytelling. Participants will engage with tools that allow for the construction of rich, interactive worlds where audiences can explore, create, and participate.
Multimedia performative installation

We will create an in-depth exploration of multimedia installations as an innovative and transformative medium in the performative arts sector. By blending visual, audio, and interactive elements, multimedia installations have the power to engage audiences on a deeper, more immersive level, enhancing the live performance experience and expanding artistic boundaries. Through a combination of theory, case studies, and practice, participants will:

- Learn the techniques and tools involved in crafting multimedia installations that complement or enhance live performances. We’ll cover how to integrate video projections, spatial sound, light, and interactivity into a cohesive installation that serves as an integral part of the performance.
- Explore the possibilities of interactive multimedia, where the audience

becomes a part of the experience. Participants will learn how sensors, motion tracking, and digital interfaces can allow audiences to influence or participate in the narrative, blurring the line between performer and spectator.

- In collaborative groups, participants will have the opportunity to design and prototype a multimedia installation concept that could be integrated into a live performance. This hands-on experience will give participants a clear understanding of how to approach conceptualization, design, and execution.
Web Platforms/Streaming as Tools for Creators/Performers

In an era where digital connection is more crucial than ever, web platforms and streaming technologies offer incredible opportunities for creators and performers to reach global audiences, engage in real-time collaboration, and push the boundaries of live performance. Through a blend of discussion, theory cases and simple work, participants will:

- Discover how to use web platforms for remote collaborations with other artists, performers, and creatives (rehearsal spaces, digital art creation, creative cohesion in virtual environments).
- Get hands-on experience in setting up a live stream, including camera setup, lighting, audio, and streaming software. Learn practical tips for ensuring a smooth and professional presentation, avoiding common technical issues, and engaging your online audience effectively.
- We will explore the powerful potential of digital platforms for creators, providing practical insights and strategies for using web-based tools to enhance artistic expression, broaden audiences, and create new performance experiences.
- Explore the future of web platforms in the performing arts. How will emerging technologies like VR, AR, and AI shape the next wave of online performances? What innovations are on the horizon for digital creators?

What do we offer?

Technical/production assistance and PR support (public presentations of the outcomes of the Mobility programme will be organised at KIBLA premises).
International artists travelling from outside of Slovenia will receive a sum of 1.000,00 EUR gross to cover travel, subsistence and accommodation in Maribor, Slovenia* after the agreement with each participant is signed (artists from Slovenia should contact KIBLA for additional information).

Profile of participants:

We are looking for professionals/artists within the performing arts sector with great interest in sharing and gaining knowledge.
Background in using digital tools in the field of art is a plus.

Application and selection procedure

You can only apply for one of the two weeks of programme

First week: 29. 6. 2025–5. 7. 2025 (29th of June and 5th of July are travelling days, 30. 6.–4. 7. are working days).
Second week: 6. 7. 2025–12. 7. 2025 (6th of July and 12th of July are travelling days, 7. 7.–11. 7. are working days).
You must fill in the application form using the button above or here, providing us with the necessary information (basic personal information and/or brief CV, motivational letter, portfolio selection).
Participants are asked to bring their own computers.
All applications will be checked and confirmed by a board of selection committee and all applicants will be informed about the results by 14 April 2025.
Each partner organisation will choose 10 artists (5 per mobility week).

IMPORTANT: applications which do not include the required information and/or exceed the extension limits will not be considered. Detailed programme schedule with necessary information will be communicated to all applicants later.

For additional details on application submission, please contact: peter.lubej@kibla.org

*Payments are subject to national regulations