The past 3 years have made incredible advances into the realm of hybrid realities transcending all the forms along the Mixed Reality Continuum. The question that lingers is what remains after 3 years of hybrid experiences. What place will XR play in guiding the future of festivals? How can festivals mobilize these hybrid spaces to critically address the social questions of our times? How can festivals mobilize these spaces to not further separate but to connect us?

Inspired by Japan’s environmental music movement of the 80s, the Fest-Forward: Soundscaping Future Festivals workshop explores these speculative questions through reimagining the festival’s auditory relationship with its urban environment. Employing the latest technologies for AR sound, which are location-based and spatialized, the workshop prompts its participants to imagine alternative futures, in which the festival, the urban environment, and ultimately people’s relationship to either are transformed.

Language: Japanese & English

Technical Needs

• Bring computers

• Smartphone (iOS or Android)

• Headphones

• If possible, any sound material participants would like to work with (.mp3 format)