How could digital artworks in planetariums help to diversify our network and audience?

Presentation theme: fulldome

The mission of planetariums is to popularize science, particularly astronomy. 

To do this, we use state-of-the-art equipment to reproduce the starry sky. Far from light pollution, our theatres immerse visitors in the wonders of the sky. 

This ability to immerse spectators has inspired artists from a quite early stage and, recently, artists coming from digital arts. This field gathers artists such as musicians, singers and actors, as well as architects, graphic designers or IT engineers. 

This diversity of skills, allows us to expand our networks. Thanks to artist residencies, we met artists, producers, distributors, art schools and film directors. These relationships enlarge our platform for exchanging know-how. Moreover, the presentation of these works attracts unusual visitors: students or 20-30 y.o audience, audiovisual professionals. 

Although these works are presented during events, the most important challenge is to mix the regular audience with people interested in digital arts, and not to create a new meeting for professionals. 

That’s why, in addition to artist residencies, we organize an annual festival dedicated to digital arts, during the museum’s opening hours, for all visitors, whether they come for the exhibitions or for the planetarium. 

In a competitive context of immersive offers (VR, Cave, Metaverses, immersive and interactive rooms...), this talk aims to initiate (or to continue) discussion by describing the opportunities and possibilities for our theatres, in terms of partnerships and audiences.

Image © Arena Berlin