MEDIA FACADES FESTIVAL BERLIN 2008 Myth and Potential of Media Architecture and Urban Screens Berlin, October / November 2008 The MEDIA FACADES FESTIVAL BERLIN 2008 is engaging a wide range of stakeholders with distinctive interests in the public space. The event will promote a multi-disciplinary approach to technology, architecture and media art in modern cities through a program of panel sessions, curated screenings and an exhibition. Exhibition at the German Architecture Centre (DAZ) This exhibition will explore the integration of moving images into the building facade as a communicative element, and its effect on Urban Space. A selection of innovative projects that have been realized in various cities will demonstrate possible connections between architecture and screens and highlight different artistic and architectural strategies. Practical technical information will give architects a deeper insight into the challenges and possibilities of utilizing new media in architecture. Symposium at DAZ The symposium will foster face-to-face contact and deepen the theoretical background of the issues addressed in the exhibition and workshop. Topics such as the following could be addressed:

• The sustainable integration of digital moving images in the urban architectural landscape
• The changing perception of architecture and public space in the digital age
• Relationships between developments in technology, site specificity and new content
• Interactive design and networking tools for the communication with citizens
• Achieving a balance between commercial, communal and cultural interests

Screenings on Four Media Facades in Berlin Media facades are a new kind of exhibition format. International media researchers, artists, architects will gain temporary use of 4 facades in Berlin and explore their cultural, political and social roles. These screenings serve as a demonstrative test platform for the public. They invite a wider audience to gain hands-on experience in this special connection of content, format, and site-specificity, and to take part in a new interactive infrastructure. An Expert and Artist Workshop We will initiate a 3-day workshop with 16 Berlin-based artists selected through a call for participation. The objective of the workshop is for each artist to produce a piece for one of the 4 selected media facades. The first day consists of public introductory lectures. The second day is scheduled for exchange and discussion with the experts and screen owners at the location of each screen. The third day will be reserved for further discussion among the artists and organisers. Round Table Public Round Table meetings of the Urban Screens Network Berlin accompany the festival. This expert-network attempts to develop a sustainable concept for a long-term cultural program on urban screens in Berlin. Publication A detailed publication documenting the festival (Conference Screenings, Exhibition) will be produced to guide the further development in the field.