The central theme of this year’s Sónar+D 2024 programme is how the creative industries can prepare for the future in a time of radical upheaval. The creative landscape today feels more like the Wild West than it has in years: think back to the early years of the internet in the late 1990s, or the height of the blogosphere in the late 2000s. Widespread use of Artificial Intelligence technology, growing recognition of the economic imperative of platform capitalism, and the new frontiers being opened up by immersive entertainment and augmented reality are just some of the topics on the minds of creative professionals today.
As always, Sónar+D will be both a forum and a laboratory to discuss and explore how artists, creatives, businesses and institutions are futureproofing their work in response to these challenges. Sónar by Day 2024 will be the place to hear, see and understand how these different actors are adapting to new realities.
Some are calling for radical reform, like writer-activist Sasha Costanza-Chock (presented by SEIDOR) and ‘abogamer’ Micaela Mantegna. Both will deliver AV lectures that emphasise the importance of imagining and designing a new kind of digital future to avoid recreating current societal biases and inequalities.
Others are responding by adapting their practices to treat technology as a collaborator, a tried and tested method for futureproofing. Masterclasses from Nicole L’Huillier and Marta Verde will show how artists are finding innovative, unexpected uses for Artificial Intelligence, as part of the AI & Music programme, powered by S+T+ARTS, an initiative of the European Commission. Also on the programme is technologist and musician Peter Kirn, whose ‘AI Performance Playground’ hacklab will invite participants from a range of artistic backgrounds to learn how to play with AI, in preparation for a joint showcase at Sónar by Day. Details on how to apply to take part will be provided soon.
The AI & Music programme also includes two collaborative performances that use choreography to explore the interaction between the digital and physical world: Myriam Bleau & Nien Tzu Weng’s ‘Second Self’ and Lee Gamble and Candela Capitán’s ‘Models’. They’ll be joined by Dutch-Iranian artist Sevdaliza, who uses AI to challenge preconceptions of gender and identity; and producer and coder Moisés Horta, aka 𝔥𝔢𝔵𝔬𝔯𝔠𝔦𝔰𝔪𝔬𝔰, who’ll present his collaborative album 𝔐ᴜᴛᴜᴀʟɪsᴍ𝔛, accompanied by “AI spectres”. Moisés will also take part in an open forum ‘We Are The Music Makers’, offering his perspective on AI and music creation alongside Thor Magnusson (Intelligent Instruments), Sergi Jordà (UPF, Reactable), Anna Xambó (QMUL C4DM), and Magda Polo (UB).
Other forums explore the future of the creative industries from a more institutional perspective. ‘Curating the curators’ brings together the minds behind some of the world’s most influential conferences, with representatives from A MAZE. (the Games and Playful Media Festival), The Conference, European Lab, Katapult, OFFF, and TED. The growing sector of immersive and experiential art and performance will also feature, with representatives from spatial sound studio and venue Monom, leading creative agency Moment Factory, immersive artspace Superblue, and LED screen producer Saco Technologies (whose projects include The Sphere).
Virtual reality technology takes centre-stage with serial VR pranksters and digital studio Team Rolfes’ “VR-puppeted, motion capture avatar-ed, real-time club-theatre performance” ‘321Rule’, starring rapper Lil Mariko. And groundbreaking choreographer Kianí del Valle returns to the festival alongside creative studio Hamill Industries, with ‘Cortex’, a brand new performance featuring music from Latin American superproducer TAYHANA.
A concept that debuted at Sónar+D last year will also return. Project Area (supported by Banco Sabadell Foundation) will once again host technology, creative projects and exhibits from around the world. This open laboratory at the centre of Sónar by Day will explore creative AI, gaming, audio technology, plus much more. It will also feature selection of AI musical tools as part of AI & Music powered by S+T+ARTS.
Sónar’s long standing relationship with Barcelona’s Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) will extend beyond Sónar by Day this year. The second edition of the +RAIN Film Festival, Europe’s first international film festival dedicated to AI-generated cinema, co-organised by Sónar+D and the UPF, begins at the university's Poblenou campus on Tuesday 11th June. Across 4 days, the festival will explore how new creative practices, experimentation and generative AI are being integrated into the audiovisual industry. Sónar+D will host the festival’s fair on the 13th June, followed by the summit on the 14th of June (the AI & Blockchain Creative Summit). The open call for submissions for films has just been extended to Wednesday 13th March. Finally, Barcelona Music Tech Hub will host a session featuring pitch sessions from local startups and dialogues on the current state-of-play of music tech.
Due to personal reasons, previously announced artists Tomas Saraceno and David Gruber have both had to cancel their appearances at Sónar+D 2024. Additional participants and activities - including more speakers, new forums and the full list of Project Area participants - will be announced in the coming weeks, completing the Sónar+D 2024 programme.
Find out more about all these activities at the Sónar+D page, and buy your tickets for Sónar+D, including the SonarPass+D which gives you access to exclusive morning sessions on Thursday and Friday, so you won’t miss a minute of Sónar+D 2024, here.