Ars Electronica Inspires New Festival in Wollongong, Australia
(Wollongong/Linz, March 1, 2019) More overnight visitors are expected to gather across multiple locations in the city of Wollongong from February 27th to March 1st, 2020, with the Wollongong Council and the University of Wollongong supporting a new inaugural event for the region, which will explore and celebrate technology, arts, science and society. The 3 Festival, so named for its celebration and focus on the nexus of art, technology and society, is a multi-day festival inspired by the highly successful Ars Electronica Festival presented annually in the Austrian city of Linz.
3 Festival – in collaboration with Ars Electronica – will feature exhibitions built from Australian and International talent and a selection of Ars Electronica content. The festival will include a series of symposiums across a range of contemporary topics and issues across arts, science, technology, society and entrepreneurship. Additionally, a contemporary music program will explore experimentation in composition, instrumentation and cross-media integration. The event’s founder and Executive Producer Adam Zammit will produce the event in partnership with the Ars Electronica Australia team. The event is also supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
Wollongong City Acting Lord Mayor Councillor David Brown added “In recent years Council has been working with key partners to position Wollongong as a vibrant and creative events city. The 3 Festival brings an element of innovation into the portfolio of major events the city has had success in attracting. We see the 3 Festival as a perfect fit given our relationship with the University of Wollongong and the growing number of science and technology-based businesses who now call Wollongong home. I’d like to thank the State Government and the University of Wollongong for their support in bringing this event to Wollongong.“
Chief Administration Officer, Melva Crouch said “We are delighted to have the opportunity to support the establishment of such a unique event, that promises to engage visitors and the local community in unique exhibitions that explore the societal challenges and rapid change that we are facing in the world today”.
Festival Producer Adam Zammit explained “This event aims to act as a unique creative source for distinct, novel ideas and a platform for showcasing existing interdisciplinary work alongside speculative projects and surprising experiences. We are living in an age of undeniable urgency requiring a greater diversity of voices in generating divergent sketches of future possibilities. We hope 3 Fest will become an
important platform for the convergence of experimental and visionary thinking and projects for artists and industry, students and teachers, philosophers and technologists, scientists and start-ups.”
Gerfried Stocker the Artistic Director of Ars Electronica added “Reaching out and connecting everybody with the inspiring ideas of digital artists and creative innovators is a major goal of Ars Electronica because we believe in the power of art as a driving force for a human centred development of our future. And that’s why we are so excited to collaborate with Wollongong in their visionary initiative for a new festival, bringing together art, technology and society.”
Further announcements over coming months will illuminate the events feature components and it’s contributing and supporting partners. For more information and to register for updates, expressions of interest in participation and early bird tickets, go to: www.3festival.com
For further background on the work of Ars Electronica go to: https://ars.electronica.art
MEDIA: Adam Zammit: adam@zammitpresents.com
About: Ars Electronica — art, technology, and society
Ars Electronica is a renowned culture, education, and research platform based in Linz, Austria and active worldwide. Its focus is on current developments and future scenarios in the triangle of art, technology, and society. Founded in 1979, Ars Electronica has continuously expanded the spectrum of its activities and today stands out for its unique approach to dealing with techno-cultural phenomena.
The ARS ELECTRONICA FESTIVAL (since 1979) takes place every September in Linz. Every year, more than 1,000 artists and scientists, creators and engineers, activists and entrepreneurs from all over
the world take part and present their projects and visions for the future. In 2018, the festival counted more than 100,000 visits.
The PRIX ARS ELECTRONICA (since 1987) is the world’s most lucrative and traditional competition for artistic works at the interface of science and technology. First awarded in 1987, the competition documents the worldwide influence of media art, with around 4,000 submissions from more than 100 countries every year.
The ARS ELECTRONICA CENTER (since 1996) focuses on exhibitions, educational programs, and training sessions, which are guided by the question of how new technologies and sciences will change our lives and how we can play an active and self-confident role in shaping our future. In 2018 alone, the Ars Electronica Center recorded more than 180,000 visitors.
The ARS ELECTRONICA FUTURELAB (since 1996) stands for inspiration and creativity. Here, artists, engineers and developers work together as a team and promote artistic projects or conduct contract research.
ARS ELECTRONICA EXPORT (since 2004) is collaborating with partners from the worlds of art and culture, science and education, business and industry on projects all over the world. The spectrum ranges from exhibitions and presentations to performances and interventions to conferences, workshops, training, and mentoring sessions.
ARS ELECTRONICA SOLUTIONS (since 2012) turns the creations and prototypes of the Ars Electronica ecosystem into marketable products for business and industry.
About the events Executive Producer Adam Zammit
Adam Zammit is an entertainment, events and media veteran. Founder of music and entertainment publications Revolver, The Brag and Music Network and Entertainment agency Peer Group Media, creating unique properties including the Australian Live Music Awards (The Jack Awards) and working with most of Australian music industries peak bodies and events including ARIA and the ARIA Awards, Splendour in The Grass, Tamworth Country Music Festival, APRA and many more. Zammit has been producing content and events for the Australian and international market for twenty years including heading up the internationally renowned Big Day Out music festival as CEO for three years and as Director of Live Entertainment for James Packers’ Melco-Crown Entertainment Group in Asia.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arselectronica/47235505821/
3 Festival / Printversion
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arselectronica/40270654003/
The City of Wollongong / Fotocredit: Dee Cramer / Printversion
