Art + Tech + Policy – Humanity our digital age

A new digital humanism is required to break through existing siloes, to align our human aspirations with the development of beneficial AI, and to empower citizens to participate in the public discourse around the technologies of the future. Dr. Clara Blume, Mimoza Neziri and Oskar Beneder talked about digital humanism and the intersection of Art + Tech + Policy and how to preserve our humanity in the digital realm.

Dr. Clara Blume | Head of Art + Tech Lab | Open Austria
Clara Blume, Ph.D. works as a European cultural diplomat and artist in Silicon Valley, heading the Open Austria Art + Tech Lab.

The Art + Tech Lab was launched in October 2020 to explore the interplay of human and artificial creativity. Set out as a laboratory for open and interdisciplinary collaboration, Blume curates, commissions, and promotes art projects that redefine what it means to be human in the age of artificial intelligence. In concert with Austria’s efforts in tech diplomacy, the Art + Tech Lab is working with policy makers from Europe and the US to advocate for a new digital humanism in tech.

As President of the EU National Institutes for Culture Cluster in the Bay Area (EUNIC Silicon Valley) in 2019 and 2020, Blume spearheaded the creation of the art and technology network The Grid (Art Powers Technology) with funding from the European Commission and Salesforce. She most recently launched and curated the first edition of the San Francisco based art + tech festival The Grid: Exposure – Art + Tech + Policy Days in September 2020.

Prior to her new role in cultural diplomacy, she worked as a professional musician, songwriter, and internationally touring recording artist. As founder of Austria’s touring live music show “The Singer Songwriter Circus”, Blume helped promote over 350 artists from around the world and jumpstart the careers of many Austrian newcomers. She was nominated both “Artist of the Year” and “Woman of the Year” in 2016. Blume studied music composition and fine arts at Academia de Bellas Artes, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain). She holds a M.A. in comparative literature and a Ph.D. in cultural studies and history from the University of Vienna. Blume is a regular conference speaker and a published author.

Mimoza Neziri
Mimoza Neziri is a Student at UAS St. Poelten and studies Smart Engineering and works as a process and application manager. As a technologist she examined the intersection of Art +  Tech + Policy in a one Week Workshop and what she can do to shape the future of technology.

Oskar Beneder
Oskar Beneder studies at UAS St. Poelten Smart Engineering, works as a Systems Engineer and is active at the NGO „Verein für Kunst, Kultur und Natur am Spratzerner Kirchenweg“ where he already explored the World of art. He is absolutely convinced that there is a need for a new digital humanism and wants to get more people to actively choose their humanity also in the digital realm.

Links:

Creative Media Summer School
Open Austria Art + Tech Lab
Digital Humanism
Redefining and Renewing Humanism in the Digital Age [Opinion] Dirk Messner 2019
Fake Engagement on Facebook

A New Digital Humanism: Art + Tech + Policy (Video)