RENEWABLE FUTURES
International conference on art, science and cultural innovation
Riga May 15-18, 2014

Renewable Futures is a new conference series, the launch of which will take place during the FIELDS exhibition opening weekend on May 15-18, 2014 in the framework of Riga - European Cultural Capital programme. In a response to recent quests for a more sustainable future and overcoming the crises of the present, the conference aims to invent new avenues for future developments by bringing together traditionally separated domains. Inspired by the approach of FIELDS Exhibition, which does not just look at art in a narrow sense but takes into account all kinds of creative practices that bring together new ways of thinking, scientific knowledge, aesthetics, technologies and social practices. The conference will shape new contact zones between academic research and diversity of contemporary art practices, art and science, sustainable businesses and social engagement in the 21^st century.

* Preliminary programme:

THURSDAY, May 15
18.00 FIELDS exhibition opening (Arsenals Exhibition Hall)

FRIDAY, May 16
10.00-12.00 RF conference series launch & board meeting (introduction, discussions about new series, next conference topics, orgnaizational issues, etc.) / 12.00-13.00 Lunch / 13.00-14.00 RF meeting (résumé)
17.00-19.00 FIELDS Public Lectures / RF conference plenary session (Goethe Institute - Riga)
Armin MEDOSCH (Austria) / Misko SUVAKOVIC (Serbia) / Ieva ASTAHOVSKA (Latvia)
20.00 Art+Communication festival performances (Spikeri Concert Hall)

SATURDAY, May 17
RENEWABLE FUTURES conference Day 1 (Goethe Institute - Riga):
10.00 Keynotes and DiscussionSession: BUILDING NEW SUSTAINABILITY THEORIES
12.00-14.15 Session 1/Session 2 - ART AND SCIENCE / TECHNO-ECOLOGIES
15.00-18.00 Participatory Session - PLAYING FIELDS: RADICAL TAXONOMIES
19.00-24.00 FIELDS exhibition public event programme with artist performances during the Museum's Night (Arsenals Exhibition Hall)

SUNDAY, May 18 (bus trip to Liepaja and back)
RENEWABLE FUTURES conference Day 2 (Liepaja University's Art Research Lab)
13.00-14.30/15.30-16.30 Session 3 - ART AS RESEARCH
16.30-17.00 New Media Art Showcase by Liepaja Art Research Lab

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

FIELDS Exhibition
Arsenals Exhibition hall of Latvian National Arts Museum (May 15 - August 3, 2014)

The changing role of art in society is one where it does not just create a new aesthetics but gets involved in patterns of social, scientific, and technological transformations. The exhibition Fields presents a lively landscape of art that challenges existing viewpoints, deconstructs social issues, and proposes positive visions for the future.

The exhibition will show approximately 40 artworks by artists from all over the world, but with a special focus on Central, Eastern and Northern Europe. Curators - Raitis Smits, Rasa Smite (Latvia) and Armin Medosch (Austria). Artists - Oliver Ressler, Shu Lea Cheang, Lisa Jevbratt, Superflex, Gints Gabrans, Marko Peljhan, Cecile Babiole, Voldemars Johansons, Erich Berger, Martins Ratniks, Hayley Newman, Annemie Maes (Okno), YoHa, Martin Howse, Franz Xaver and many more.

*Conference Organizers and Mission:

The new conference series will be launched in a joint effort by RIXC, Renewable Network and ARS BALTICA, as well by other involved partner organizations, art institutions and collaboration networks. More then just building an other new Baltic-Nordic collaboration platform, this event aims to play a role of 'connector' - maintaining links between different platforms and networks existing in North European and Baltic Sea region, as well as connecting them with the other European countries and the rest of the world.

* Support:

The Renewable Futures conference takes place in the framework of Renewable Network - long-term collaboration project supported by Nordic Culture Point.

The Fields exhibition is supported by Riga 2014, Riga City Council, Nordic Culture Point, State Cultural Capital Foundation, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, Austrian Ministry of Culture, EU Culture 2007-2013 programme, Nordic Culture Point.

Partners: The Latvian National Museum of Art, Soft Control (EU Co-Project), Techno-Ecologies (EU Co-Project), Goethe Institute in Riga, French Institute in Latvia, Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia, The Danish Cultural institute, ARS BALTICA, Renewable Network.