Beta Festival: 2nd to 5th November

An exciting line-up of artists, exhibitions and installations has been announced for Beta, Ireland’s first arts and technology festival, which will take place from Thursday November 2nd to Monday November 5th at The Digital Hub and the surrounding Liberties area.

Beta will focus on key themes dominating the current technology discussion, including artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, data rights and sustainability, and seek to critically engage the audience through a combination of creativity, debate, interactive installations, projections, and engaging exhibitions.

Renowned UK artist and quantum physicist Libby Heaney will be among the array of artists providing experiences for Beta attendees. Her piece, Evolution of Ent-: QX, is the first immersive installation using quantum computing as both the medium and subject matter. The 360˚ projection Ent- takes audiences through three earthly layers of experiments containing quantum hybrid lifeforms and pulsating liquid worlds filled with fantastic creatures that zip in and out of dimensions.

Among these installations is the Potato Internet, an experimental small-scale social network developed by Caroline Sinders and Trammell Hudson. The Potato Internet scales down the internet itself, allowing artists to build a social media network from scratch using potatoes as a source of energy. Artwork will be developed in partnership with local Dublin 8 community gardens, with local potatoes harvested for the unique exhibit.

Beta will host the Repair Café by TOG Hackerspace, a workshop where attendees can bring broken household items to be fixed and have coffee while learning how they are repaired.

Events and exhibitions will take place predominantly in buildings across The Digital Hub campus, including iD8 Studio, newly reopened venue The Bank and the Learning Studio.

As the night-time festival partner, Roe & Co Irish Whiskey prides itself on reimagination and breathing new life into the world. Today the brand continues their collaborative bold spirit in Dublin 8 by announcing their partnership with Beta Festival and their support of the nighttime program of events. The festival opening night will take place at the Roe & Co Distillery on Thursday Nov 2nd, with guest appearances from thought leaders, artists, and festival curators. In conjunction Roe & Co will support key on trade locations through their headline events including curated lineups from GASH Collective’s and Open Ear festival in Tailor’s Hall.

Other highlights from the weekend will include:

• Project Arts Centre will host performances from Dwelling; a new audience driven interactive performance, creating imperceptible, poetic worlds that allow the audience to pass through space, time, and memory to experience the lives of others. Created by Peter Power & Leon Butler.
• The Ethics Studio, a space for members of the public to engage with real ethical concerns and potential real-world impacts of new and emerging technologies developed with the festival research partner ADAPT Research Centre.
• Prompt Battle, a rambunctious live event where people compete against each other using text-to-image software from Sebastian Schmieg, Bernadette Geiger, and the Prompt Battle Team
• Keynote talk from Rachel O’Dwyer, nominated author of the Financial Times Best Business Book of the Year 2023 on Tokens
• International arts residencies with transmediale, Berlin – supported by the Arts Council with newly announced selected artists Bassam Issa Al-Sabah, bela and Kloxii, Mac Andre Arboleda, and Nadia J. Armstrong

Beta will run from the 2nd to 5th November.

The Digital Hub and Aisling Murray are being supported in its preparations for Beta by SFI, The Arts Council, Project Arts Centre, Goethe Institut, Ambassade de France en Irlande, British Council, ADAPT Research Centre, and NCAD Gallery.

More information: https://betafestival.ie/