Innovative Rooms

Toimiala: Digitalisaatio

Projektin kesto: 30.11.2022 – 30.6.2023

Toiminta-alue: Kansainvälinen

Rahoittajat: Interreg Aurora
Lapin Liitto

Budjetti: Kokonaisbudjetti: 168 000 €
Interreg Aurora: 91 000 €

https://www.interregaurora.eu/approved-projects/innovative-rooms/

Projektipäällikkö: Mikko Himanka

The main objective of the project Innovative Rooms is to target cooperation partners and assess the stakeholder needs for a larger scale Interreg Aurora project.

The Innovative Rooms project is preparing a development project and a collaborative platform that brings together Nordic cultural actors, technology developers and educators. During the preparatory project, preliminary mappings will be carried out for the technological implementation of the platform, including technical requirements specification with operators, the preparation of a cost estimate, and the determination of the AV equipment required for the demonstration.

The preparatory project aims to carry out a technology demonstration so that actors in different sectors can have a view of the possibilities of the platform. The preparatory project identifies suitable actors for the project and invites interested parties to joint workshop and demonstration events. We are also recognizing different organizational needs and possibilities for a larger EU project in order to find mutual content creation interests. The technological part of the project will test low-latency technology and how the equipment can be utilized for remote learning and performances in performing arts, music, game development, robotics, technology development, technology and culture.

Three simultaneous theatre acts combined

The divide between urban and rural is a challenge in the Interreg Aurora area. The need to collaborate and co-develop in a geographically independent manner has been identified in the areas of performing arts, music and technology. The COVID pandemic has highlighted this need, but economic and environmental perspectives have also steered in this direction. New low latency and cost-effective solutions are needed for the education sector to achieve real telepresence.

Even before the pandemic, it was clear that the inherent latency and low quality of existing platforms like Skype, Zoom, Teams, etc. was a major problem for the creative and cultural sectors such as music education, performing arts, and game development. The aimed novel format mitigates these flaws by creating a separate media network based on the next broadcast standard which is not dependent on existing broadband solutions, internet services, or processor capacity. There is a need to integrate fiber technology and low latency technology as part of the co-development and everyday life of performing arts, music, and technology education and development.

Remote North NCDP (www.ncdp.eu) is a nonprofit network that seeks to support all forms of live remote artistic performance, collaboration, co-creation, and music and arts teaching over large geographical distances where ultra-low latency is a requirement. Today active members of the network are: Aalto University, Tampere University, Sibelius Academy, Theater Academy Helsinki, ÅMI, SMI, Riksteatern, Peoples hub foundation at KTH, Högskolan Dalarna Falun, INN Hamar and Lillehammer, NTNU Trondheim + 4 culture schools in the region and Coventry University UK.

Three Rooms pilot/performance examines a new stage format for theater over distance without delay – in three locations simultaneously in three Nordic countries.

In the pilot, new dramaturgical possibilities are tested and how to play theater interactively with a large presence without delay over long distances. This is done with one actor on each stage in each country and the other two projected onto transparent materials, all three actors are thus present on all three stages. In this way, the scenography and spatiality are also tested with the format. With this setup, an imaginary fourth room is created where the drama unfolds.

The pilot project applies digital technology in the form of fiber optics to transfer, control and coordinate sound, light, image, effects and stage technology between the three locations with the theatre’s analogue form of expression.

We create a real-time presence of the three stages together, to allow the audience to be in the same room, in a larger context, despite the long distance of approx. 1000 km. With the pilot the artistic, technical, public experience, the production form and the stage -format are being tested. Several performing arts demos will also be implemented in the project.

Effects of a Nordic low latency network.

lower operating costs for remote performance cooperation (e.g. a director or set designer of a play at Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter in Kautokeino can work remotely for part of the rehearsal time)
new collaborations (e.g. between performing arts, gamification, recording studios)
developing new business models within the creative industries
lower travel costs and higher accessibility in music education
safer working conditions by using robotics (e.g. remote robotic dismantling of electric car batteries)
creating interactivity in venues with low latency solutions (e.g. between venues for conferences)
safe connections for secure remote meetings
peer support for professionals in remote areas
the need for new formats in artistic work

What is to come?

Innovative Rooms has resulted in a first spin-off in the form of a funding application to Interreg Aurora: Access the North with the speed of light (ANSEL) is a 3-year project with a total budget of about 2 M€.

Planned ANSEL projectpartners and stakeholders: Centria, UiT Arctic University of Norway, Sundsvall municipality, Kaustisen seutukunta, City of Oulu, City of Kokkola, Riksteatern, Tvibit, Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter, Cultural School of Kautokeino.

We will submit our larger project proposal for Interreg Aurora in September. The collaboration is on a strong base and we hope this is the first in a string of development and content creation on a novel Nordic platform in the Aurora region.

Artistic Creation and Music Teaching at the Speed of Light

Welcome to Innovative Rooms demo day about remote creative collaboration! During the day, the work with low latency performing arts will be presented at Riksteatern. We also pay a visit to Net Insight, which manufactures the Nimbra technology used in remote collaboration. The day ends at the Stockholm University College of Music Education, where we get to follow a music lesson where the teacher is in Stockholm and the student is in Mariehamn in the Åland Islands. The aim of the day is to demonstrate the format and inspire new collaborations.

A network connection with low latency makes it possible to develop the digital format of the performing arts, distance pedagogy, promote cultural equality for minorities and strengthen democratic processes, contribute to less travel and thus to a reduced footprint on the environment.