Veranstaltungen

Veranstaltung: Expanded Animation 2026 – Conference on Animation and Interactive Art | 09.–11.09.2026

Andrea Polywka — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:08:22 +0000

Image by John Lim

The Expanded Conference (Expanded 2026) will take place from September 9th to 11th as part of the Ars Electronica Festival 2026. This call for papers focuses on academic papers in the field of Expanded Animation and Interactive Art that explore and experiment with media expression at the intersection of art, technology, and society. We will have four categories (Research Paper, Art Paper, Doctoral Consortium, Play Gallery), where submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process.

All selected speakers will be given a free pass to the Ars Electronica Festival (September 9th to 13th).

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

3D Scanning
AI-generated media; human-AI collaboration
art-science and interdisciplinary collaborations
artistic computer animation
artistic human-computer interaction (HCI and UX)
audio-visual experiments
data journalism and animated documentary
data visualizations and information aesthetics
digital cultural heritage
digital media art history
digital, hybrid, and expanded theater
expanded animation
game art and playable media
generative and algorithmic art
hybrids between animation and game
innovative interfaces
innovative research and practice-based methodologies
music visualization
participatory media
performance projects
physical computing, tangible media/interfaces, robotics
projects using NFT, Metaverse, Social Media
reactive and interactive visuals
real-time CG
scientific visualizations
site-specific installations, projection mapping, media facades
sound art and soundscapes
transmedia environments, narratives, and experiences
VR, AR, MR, XR; virtual humans and environments

Call for Papers

Submission Categories

RESEARCH PAPER

Research Papers focus on academic works that present study results, literature reviews, theoretical considerations, etc., based on state-of-the-art research methods.

Presentation Format

Presentation: 10 min. + panel discussion
No exhibition or on-site demonstration
Accepted papers will be published in the ACM Digital Library

Submission Guidelines

Word Count Maximum: 3,500 (excluding references), single-column
Submitted paper is original and has not been published nor is currently accepted for publication elsewhere
Submissions are peer-reviewed (double-blind process)
Submission must use the ACM Manuscript Template (see Submission Guidelines on the website)

ART PAPER

Art Papers focus on the artwork, a case study, and work in progress, including theory and context.

Presentation Format

Presentation: 10 min. + panel discussion
No exhibition or on-site demonstration
Accepted papers will be published in the ACM Digital Library

Submission Guidelines

Word Count Maximum: 3,500 (excluding references), single-column.
Supplementary material: video documentation and images
Submissions are peer-reviewed (single-blind process)
Submitted paper has to be original and not previously published or currently accepted for publication elsewhere
Submission must use the ACM Manuscript Template(see Submission Guidelines on the website)

DOCTORAL CONSORTIUM

The Doctoral Consortium offers a unique opportunity for doctoral students to explore and develop their research interests in animation, play, and interactive art. In this interdisciplinary workshop, students will receive feedback under the guidance of distinguished researchers.

We invite PhD students who feel they will benefit from expert feedback on their dissertation work to apply. Ideally, candidates should have a clear topic and research approach and have made some progress, but are not yet ready to defend their thesis.

Presentation Format

10-minute presentation
Followed by a panel discussion and feedback session
Accepted papers will be published in the ACM Digital Library
Note: No exhibition or on-site demonstration required

Submission Guidelines

Submissions are peer-reviewed (single-blind process)
Submission must use the ACM Manuscript Template (see Submission Guidelines on the website)
1. Extended Abstract (Max. 2,000 words, excl. references) Please submit a document describing your PhD work. To ensure a productive feedback session, we recommend structuring your text to cover:
  - Motivation: What drives your research?
  - Research Gap & Questions: What problem are you solving?
  - Methodology: Your approach (artistic research, experimental, theoretical, etc.).
  - Current Status: What have you achieved so far?
  - Next Steps: What are your plans for the future?
2. Additional Material (Appendices)
  - Curriculum Vitae (CV): A brief summary of your academic background.
  - Optional: Video documentation or images representing the work (max 3 min, max size 150MB)
  - Note: Supervisors cannot be authors of the paper, but can be acknowledged inside of it

EXPANDED PLAY GALLERY

Expanded Play is a gallery track for the Expanded Conference that features interactive and playful artistic works within the context of Expanded Media, including fields such as games, mixed-reality, spatial interaction, and human-computer interaction. In particular, experimental works that span multiple domains and offer innovative approaches to play are highly encouraged. Selected works will be exhibited over the course of a week and typically require supervision.

Presentation Format

Lightning talk (3 min.) + discussion

Submission Guidelines

Submissions are peer-reviewed (single-blind process)
Submission must use the ACM Manuscript Template (see Submission Guidelines on the website)
Accepted papers will be published in the ACM Digital Library
Abstract (1000 words) with the following required information:
- Description of the interactive work
- How it fits into the scope of the Expanded Play gallery
- Short description of implementation (how it is implemented, e.g., HMD or screen-based project, performance, etc.)
Representative image
Video (max 3 min, max size 150MB)
The equipment and technical information required (technical rider, required space, etc.)

Any supplementary material (press kit, portfolio, etc.) which shows your previous work is also welcome but not required! Anonymising the material is not necessary here.
Gallery: Atelierhaus Salzamt

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Generative AI tools and technologies, such as ChatGPT, may not be listed as authors of an ACM published Work. The use of generative AI tools and technologies to create content is permitted but must be fully disclosed in the Work. For example, the authors could include the following statement in the Acknowledgements section of the Work: ChatGPT was utilized to generate sections of this Work, including text, tables, graphs, code, data, citations, etc. If you are uncertain about the need to disclose the use of a particular tool, err on the side of caution, and include a disclosure in the acknowledgements section of the Work.

Basic word processing systems that recommend and insert replacement text, perform spelling or grammar checks and corrections, or systems that do language translations are to be considered exceptions to this disclosure requirement and are generally permitted and need not be disclosed in the Work. As the line between Generative AI tools and basic word processing systems like MS Word or Grammarly blurs, this Policy will be updated.

Important Dates

Submission deadline: May 1st, 2026, 23:59 (AoE)
Decision Notification: Beginning of June, 2026 (AoE)
Camera-Ready Deadline: End of July 2026
Conference Days: September 9th–11th 2026
Ars Electronica: September 9th–13th 2026

Submission

Submission is via Easy Chair at https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=expanded2026, where you will be prompted to set up a free Easy Chair account if you don’t have one already.

Please read the ACM Submission Guidelines carefully, and prepare your submission following the Microsoft Word Template or LateX Template.

Proceedings and Publication Fees

At least one author of each accepted paper must be registered for the conference and must present their contribution at the Expanded Conference in person in Linz.

Accepted papers will appear in the Proceedings of the Expanded Conference in the ACM Digital Library. Following the new ACM publishing model for conference proceedings, all accepted Expanded 2026 papers will be published Open Access and linked from the Ars Electronica Archives.

Submitters should use institutional email addresses where possible. Many authors will qualify for free OA publishing, while others will be required to pay an applicable article processing charge (APC). If you are the corresponding author of an Expanded’2026 submission, please follow the steps on the ICPS website (https://www.acm.org/publications/icps/author-guidance) prior to your submission to determine whether you will be required to pay an APC. This is a condition to the acceptance of your paper, and no exception will be made.

Please note: For proceedings that are to be published simultaneously with the conference, the payment deadline for applicable APCs is 45 days prior to the start of the conference. The coauthors on a paper are jointly responsible for ensuring timely payment of the applicable article processing charge (APC) for that paper. If the APC remains unpaid 90 days after the initial due date, all authors on the paper will be prohibited from contributing to any ACM venue (including ACM journals, conferences, magazines, and books) until the payment is completed.

Venue

The conference will be held at the Ars Electronica Center from 9th to the 11th of September 2026 as part of the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria.

The media festival will take place from the 9th to the 13th of September 2026: https://ars.electronica.art/festival/en/.

Organizing Committee

Please follow the link for the Expanded 2026 organizing committee.

You will find more information on the website of the Expanded Animation Conference website: https://expanded-conf.org

Veranstaltung: Animation, Green Storytelling, And Sustainable Production | 18.-19.09.2024 | Potsdam

Julia Eckel — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 13:23:41 +0000

Vom 18. bis 19. September findet an der Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf der finale Workshop des DFG-Forschungsnetzwerks Animation and Contemporary Media Culture. Challenges and Potentials of Animation Studies in the Digital Era statt. Der internationale Workshop trägt den Titel Animation, Green Storytelling, And Sustainable Production. Anmeldungen sind bis zum 13.09.2024 möglich.

Weitere Informationen finden sich hier.

AG-Tagung „CAGA 2024“ | “The (R)Evolution of Animation: Current Challenges and Future Directions“ | 09.–11.09.2024 | Viborg, Denmark

Julia Eckel — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 09:29:59 +0000

We are very excited to announce our 7th AG conference (Conference of AG Animation or in short CAGA) which will take place from September 9 to 11, 2024 in collaboration with The Animation Workshop/VIA University College at Aalborg University, Denmark. The title and topic of the conference is „The (R)Evolution of Animation: Current Challenges and Future Directions“ an we are looking forward to many interesting keynotes and presentations.

The program and all info on the conference can be found on the conference website: https://caga24.via.dk/

Registration for the conference will be opened soon.

CfP: CAGA 2024 –“The (R)Evolution of Animation: Current Challenges and Future Directions“ | 09.–11.09.2024 | Extended Deadline: 15.05.2024

Andrea Polywka — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 14:39:05 +0000

Call for Papers: 7th Conference of the AG Animation and VIA University College | „The (R)Evolution of Animation: Current Challenges and Future Directions“ | Viborg, Denmark | September 9–11 2024

Math Universe – by Mads Vadsholt

The conference takes place in cooperaton with the Animation Workshop at the VIA University College in Viborg (Denmark) in week 37 (September 9–11) of 2024, corresponding with the well-known Viborg Animation Festival.

The conference aims to delve into the rapid evolution and the ecological, political, ethical and technological challenges of animation, investigating the factors that have propelled its growth and examining the obstacles it currently faces. This call for research seeks to foster critical discussions surrounding the (r)evolution of animation and its future directions in response to the changes and trials faced by the industry. We invite scholars, artists, curators and more to submit papers that shed light on historical and current challenges in animation studies, art and industry as well as on the future directions of this ever-evolving field.

The conference program will be structured in three parts:

The Influence of Technology on Animation:

The craft of animation has been defined by the evolution and progress of technology that has been available to the artists; tools which were adapted to specific demands and language that created a unique way of expressing a story. It enabled new ways of interdisciplinary cooperation in different areas of work and disciplines but also countless adaptations and extensions of intellectual property (IP) across different media forms and platforms. They have paved the way for more aesthetically captivating visuals, expansive worldbuilding, as well as intricate storytelling in animation.

Political and Ecological Challenges Arising from Animation’s Growth:

As animation production and viewership increase, new challenges have emerged. On one hand, there is an urgent need for greater diversity and inclusive representation in media. On the other hand, the integration of new technologies, techniques, and an expanding array of distribution platforms must be balanced with ecological working standards. This includes addressing issues like international remote workplaces and considering the ecological impact of animation production.

Ethical Questions Raised by Emerging Technologies:

Production efficiency has become a paramount concern, leading to the emergence of technologies like AI-assisted animation and text-prompted art. However, the integration of these technologies raises ethical questions regarding the nature of artistic expression and the responsibilities of creators. “The (R)Evolution of Animation: Current Challenges and Future Directions” invites researchers to explore these ethical implications and contribute to the ongoing discourse on the use of AI in animation production.

Further research topics and paper submissions

Topics of interest include navigating the impact of the pandemic on production and distribution, addressing the need for greater diversity and inclusivity in animation, and developing ethical and ecological frameworks for working standards and the use of AI in animation production.

In addition, we encourage researchers to examine how animation has historically revolutionized expression, storytelling, and communication. This includes exploring its impact on education, ethical debates, and its role in addressing complex social and political issues. Furthermore, papers that explore archival practices and chronicle the revolutions shaping the animation industry and craft, both in relation to current challenges and in parallel, as well as submissions from scholars in various disciplines, including animation studies, media studies, cultural studies, art history, and more are highly welcomed.

Further research topics may include, but are not limited to:

The historical and current impact of animation on traditional media and storytelling.
Ethics of AI in animation production, including text-prompted art and animation analysis.
Emerging and historical trends in animation technology and techniques.
Current state and prior developments in green and sustainable animation production.
Animation as a medium and its influence on public perception of ethical, political, and societal issues.

Submission guidelines

Our expert panel of reviewers will conduct a rigorous and academic peer-review process to ensure the quality and scholarly value of the selected papers. The written contributions for the conference should therefore be structured due to the following guidelines:

Abstract (max. 300 words including references and max. 4 images)
Short bio (max. 100 words)
Extended Deadline: May 15th, 2024

You will find more information about the Call for Papers and the conference here: https://caga24.via.dk/.

Confirmed Keynote Speakers

Bonnie Mitchell – „Time, Timing and Timelessness: Expanding the Boundaries of Animation“

This keynote presentation will explore various theories of time and connect them to an expanded definition of animation. A discussion of time cannot exist without connecting it to space. This talk will focus on both traditional animation and animated works of art that defy the boundaries of the screen. Animation has the ability to emotionally and cognitively affect the audience and alter the perception of time. Through the use of immersion, interactivity, and the psychological power of design principles, these animated environments challenge our notion of both time and space.

Bonnie Mitchell is an experimental animator, curator, and professor in Digital Arts at Bowling Green State University in the United States. Her animation and installations explore spatial and experiential relationships to our physical, and her large-scale installations invite the viewer to physically enter an environment where the projected animations and sculptural elements immerse the viewer in a conceptual journey through time. Her experimental visual music animations and installations have been exhibited at numerous festivals, conferences, and exhibitions around the world including the SIGGRAPH and ISEA art exhibitions, Under the Radar, Punta y Raya and many more animation screenings.

Boris Eldagsen – „/animate – The Rise of AI-Generated Moving Images?“

As an international artist and AI expert, Boris will give an overview of the current possibilities to generate moving images with artificial intelligence. He will show that the basic rules for creating images also apply to moving images and how easy animation with AI has become.

Boris Eldagsen (*1970) is a Berlin-based photomedia artist, who studied fine arts at the art academies of Mainz, Prague and Hyderabad (India) – and philosophy at the universities of Cologne and Mainz. Boris is „Head of Digital“ at the German Photographic Academy (DFA) and one of the leading AI experts in the international photography scene. In April 2023 he refused the Sony World Photography Awards, admitting that he applied with an AI-generated image to initiate a debate about the relationship between AI-generated images and photography. His stunt became worldwide news and his image THE ELECTRICIAN one of the most famous of the year.

Henrik Schønau Fog

Henrik Schønau-Fog is an Associate Professor, PhD and Deputy Head of Department of Media Technology at Aalborg University, Copenhagen Campus. Henrik is the founder of the ViZARTS project and together with Medialogy students and Amunet Studio, he has created one of the world’s first rear-projection based Virtual Production Training Facilities at AAU’s basement in Copenhagen’s Sydhavn district – with the support from Nordisk Film Fonden. Here filmmakers and techies collaborate to utilize the real-time capabilities of game engines to learn how to create virtual production for animation, film, TV and games.is also the co-founder and director of the Samsung Media Innovation Lab for Education (SMILE) where he is working with innovative media-technologies, gamification, transformational games and games for learning. His work is based on real-time 3D game engines, and he is an expert in virtual production, final pixels in camera productions, in-camera VFX, motion capture animation and adaptive real-time story worlds.After working at DR-TV as a producer in the late 1990’ies, Henrik moved to Switzerland and worked at The Fantastic Cooperation to create a satellite-based internet platform with MTV and Eurosport on board. He then founded Scandinavias first Motion Capture company – MoCap Copenhagen – with clients such as IO interactive and Tivoli, before he pivoted into an academic career. He is furthermore an expert in motivational factors and assessment of engagement in games, learning and interactive media – and loves kitesurfing and snowboarding.

Conference Team

Andrea Polywka, Philipps-Universität Marburg

Juergen Hagler, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Ars Electronica Linz

Peter Vistisen, Aalborg University

Lana Tankosa Nikolic, The Animation Workshop/VIA University College

Jakob Borrits Skov Sabra, The Animation Workshop/VIA University College

Bue Holmsgaard Fyhn, The Animation Workshop/VIA University College

Partners

The Animation Workshop/VIA University College

Aalborg University

Viborg Animation Festival

Save the Date: CAGA 2024 – 7th Conference of the AG Animation at The Animation Workshop (VIA University College) „The (R)Evolution of Animation: Current Challenges and Future Directions“ (Viborg, Denmark, September 2024)

Andrea Polywka — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:38:58 +0000

We would like to announce our upcoming annual conference „The (R)Evolution of Animation: Current Challenges and Future Directions“ organized by the Animation Workshop (VIA University College) and the AG Animation, taking place in Viborg (Denmark) in September 2024.

More information about the Call for Papers and the conference will be published and updated here in October 2023.

All questions about submission should be emailed to: caga24@via.dk.

CAGA 2022: 6th Conference of AG Animation – Dimensions of Animation | Lucerne | November 10-12, 2022 | PROGRAM & WEBSITE

Julia Eckel — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 11:03:58 +0000

The website and programme of the 6th Conference of AG Animation is now online and we’re really looking forward to three days of intense discussions in Lucerne!

The official conference programme and infos about locations and registration can be found here:
https://blog.hslu.ch/dimensionsofanimation/

Registration is open until October 31, 2022.

Virtual Symposium „Animation & Politics in a Globalized World“ (October 28-29)

Andrea Polywka — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 20:13:44 +0000

We are inviting our colleagues, practitioners and interested researchers to our 2-day online symposium „Animation & Politics in a Globalized World“ (October 28–29, 2021).

In the symposium, speakers from across the world will present their research and their art works on animation and politics. We are happy to announce our two keynote speakers Eric Herhuth and Esther Leslie. The event is organized by Dr. Erwin Feyersinger (Universität Tübingen), Andrea Polywka (Philipps-Universität Marburg), and Dr. Maike Sarah Reinerth (Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, Potsdam). It is hosted by AG Animation (a SIG of the German Society for Media Studies), the DFG-Network Animation and Contemporary Media Culture, and the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, Potsdam, and sponsored by the Documentary SIG of the Society for Animation Studies (SAS).

Program (all times CEST)

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Welcome

13:00

Artistic Research, Animation & Global Politics

13:15–14:30

Alisi Telengut (Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF): Re-Animating Animism

Rand Beiruty (Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF): Animating Violence Against Women: A Practice-Based Study on the Representation of Child Marriage and Domestic Violence in Animated Documentaries

Perspectives on Geographical and Educational Aspects

14:45–16:00

Eric Wilkinson (McGill University): Bob and Margaret: The Limits of Canadian Content

Naima Alam (Universität Tübingen): Explaining Female Health with Animation

Guglielmo Scafirimuto (Université de Paris Nanterre): The Animated World of Migration: From Educational Video to Autobiography

Interactive Panel on Animation Politics & Globalization

16:15–17:15

Keynote

17:30–19:00

Eric Herhuth (Tulane University): Troublesome Figures: Animation, Conscience, Psychomachia

Friday, October 29, 2021

Keynote

10:00–11:30

Esther Leslie (Birkbeck): In Colourful Reflection We Have Digital Life: On Animation’s Contemporary Appearance on Our Globe

Current Research on Animation, Politics & Contemporary Media Culture

11:45–13:15

Presentations by two members of the DFG-Network, Jana Rogoff and Maike Sarah Reinerth

Please register at https://forms.gle/JxCYshmBoWNgn81a9.
You can also send a short registration email to symposium2021@ag-animation.de.
Please register until October 26, 2021.

Verschoben auf 2021: 5. AG-Tagung Political Animation – Animation Politics

Erwin Feyersinger — Thu, 07 May 2020 13:28:40 +0000

Aufgrund der COVID-19-Pandemie haben wir uns entschieden, die für diesen November in Potsdam geplante 5. Tagung der AG Animation unter dem Titel Political Animation – Animation Politics auf 2021 zu verschieben. Wir werden das neue Datum zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt bekannt geben und den Call for Papers erneut veröffentlichen.

Erwin Feyersinger, Andrea Polywka und Maike Sarah Reinerth

Veranstaltung: Immersion 2019 | The New Infinity – Neue Kunst für Planetarien

Julia Eckel — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 20:38:03 +0000

Im Sommer startet die Projektreihe „The New Infinity“ in eine zweite Runde und bringt
zeitgenössische Kunst in Planetarien. Der neue Zyklus von Auftragsarbeiten der
Berliner Festspiele/Immersion in Koproduktion mit dem Planetarium Hamburg erlebt seine
Weltpremiere am 13. August in Kooperation mit dem Internationalen Sommerfestival
Kampnagel im Planetarium Hamburg. Im September sind die Arbeiten im Mobilen Dome bei
freiem Eintritt in Berlin zu sehen.

Weitere Informationen zum Programm und den Screening-Terminen finden sich bei facebook und in der folgenden Pressemitteilung.

Dokville 2019 „Animierte Wirklichkeit – Zwischen Fakt und Fiktion“ | Stuttgart | 27.–28.06.2019

Erwin Feyersinger — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 11:38:47 +0000

Der 15. Dokville-Branchentreff vom Haus des Dokumentarfilms steht vom 27. bis 28. Juni 2019 unter dem Titel »Animierte Wirklichkeit – Zwischen Fakt und Fiktion«. Mit namhaften Gästen und Kennern der Branche wird bei Dokville über neue Projekte und wichtige Entwicklungen im dokumentarischen Fernsehen, im Film und in Serien, sowie in Online-Formaten gesprochen. Die diesjährige Tagung wird mit einer Keynote von Dr. Till Grahl eröffnet. Er ist wissenschaftlich-künstlerischer Leiter des Deutschen Instituts für Animationsfilm in Dresden. Das DIAF widmet sich in Ausstellungen, in der Forschung und mit einem Archiv dem deutschen Animationsfilm. Alle Infos, Programm und Anmeldung unter: www.dokville.de, sowie in den sozialen Netzwerken Facebook (#Dokville) und Twitter (@Dokville).