Beta, Ireland’s art and technology festival, will return for its second year in the first two weeks of November. Co-founded and supported by The Digital Hub, Beta will host a series of events including creative exhibitions, keynote speakers, interactive workshops and an assembly centred on artificial intelligence in Dublin 8 and beyond.
The 2024 edition of Beta will explore critical themes around the relationship between technology and power including facial recognition technologies, the impact of AI on artists, untold histories and elevating empathy through creative technologies.
The festival’s main exhibition, curated by Beta co-founder and director Aisling Murray and curator and Associate Professor at University of Limerick Nóra O’Murchú, features international and Irish artists, whose work will explore how technology can become a tool to resist hegemonic political orders and open new avenues for resistance.
Irish-Iraqi artist Basil Al Rawi is among those who will partake in the exhibition with his artwork House of Memory, which immerses viewers in a digital environment that reveals different image landscapes constructed from archived pictures and stories from Iraqi diaspora who hold the memories of these landscapes. This work connects to ongoing research showcasing the value of XR experiences in developing empathy.
Other artists confirmed for the exhibition include Firas Shehadeh, Jennifer Gradecki and Derek Curry, Sebastian Schmieg, Sam Levigne and Tega Brain, with more to be announced.
Following on from its’ successful first year – which saw an audience of nearly 2,000 people attend the festival in 2023, Beta Co-Founder and Director Aisling Murray, is looking forward to welcoming more visitors to the second year:
“I’m excited to bring Beta back to Ireland for a second year where we can explore how the intersection of art and technology enables us to understand more about the world around us. This year, we’re conscious of current technological advancements that impact Irish society including conversations about the impact of artificial intelligence on arts and culture, the influence of algorithms on politics and democracy and law enforcement’s use of facial recognition technology.
“We’re hoping to stimulate conversation about technology policy, ethics and regulation and the important cross-section between art and technology. We want to help people understand how technology and art impacts action, and this year’s programme gives a really fertile space to enrich these conversations.”
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In addition to the main exhibition, a second exhibition – Local Artists Network – will spotlight newly commissioned work by Irish artists including Aisling Phelan and Cailean Finn, among others.
Beta will aim to evoke important discussions on topical areas at the intersection of art and technology, with Kay Watson, Head of Arts Technologies at the Serpentine Gallery in London scheduled to deliver a thought-provoking keynote speech at this year’s festival.
CEO of The Digital Hub, Fiach Mac Conghail expands on the concepts at play in this year’s festival, stating:
“The Digital Hub continues to support Aisling Murray’s vision of Beta as we mark the second festival. We operate at the intersection of technology, creativity and imagination. Beta is about exploring debate and insights into the critical issues facing us as a society as we witness major technological shifts and innovations. Art has a role in challenging us and we hope our audiences will continue to find inspiration throughout the festival.”
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ADAPT Research Centre will return as the research partner for Beta with their collaborative interactive Ethics Studio, a dedicated exhibit space for visitors, researchers, and artists to meet and explore our relationship with AI using creative methods and interactions.
This year, Beta will offer specific activities as part of the official Science Week programme, including a Digital Democracy Lab with KT4D (Knowledge Technologies for Democracy) developed by project partner DemSoc, as well as workshops with ADAPT Research Centre and Better Images of AI.
The Digital Hub and Aisling Murray are being supported in its preparations for Beta by Science Week, Ambassade de France en Irlande and Institut Francais, The Arts Council, British Council, ADAPT Research Centre, European Media Art Platform (EMAP), Creative Futures Academy, Project Arts Centre, Pallas Projects, NCAD Gallery and IMMA.
The festival, which is co-founded and supported by The Digital Hub, will kick off with a weekend of workshops, discussions and performances from Friday, 1 November to Sunday, 3 November, with the centrepiece exhibition and additional events at The Digital Hub running until Sunday, 17 November.
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