A Catalan delegation is currently participating in the KIKK Festival in Namur, Belgium, from 20 to 23 October, aimed at enhancing the visibility of Catalonia's digital culture ecosystem. The mission includes a series of professional visits and networking activities in Brussels and Namur, designed to foster international connections and explore collaboration opportunities with various institutions and professionals.
The delegation comprises representatives from Multiplicity, Marc Vilanova, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), the University of Lleida, Antònia Folguera, IASlab – La Salle Campus Barcelona, Sónar+D, and the Ramon Llull Institute (IRL), supported by the Catalan Institute for Cultural Enterprises (ICEC) and the Directorate General for Cultural Heritage (DGICG). This diverse composition allows for a comprehensive presentation of Catalonia's ecosystem, which integrates research centres, universities, festivals, cultural agents, public institutions, artists, and initiatives focused on new technologies and digital creation.
Beyond participating in the festival, the Catalan mission includes professional visits in Brussels. On 20 October, the delegation visited iMAL, a leading centre for digital art and culture in Brussels, to engage with their projects and foster exchanges with the local ecosystem. The mission will conclude on 23 October with a visit to the Atomium, a prominent cultural and scientific landmark in the Belgian capital. These visits aim to broaden perspectives on various models and projects related to digital culture, technology, science, and contemporary creation, while facilitating contact with Belgian institutions and professionals.
On 21 October, during the mission, KIKK Connect will take place, focusing on connecting professionals and creative ecosystems. This event includes presentations from different delegations, discussion spaces, networking opportunities, and B2B meetings, providing a platform for discovering and exchanging ideas, as well as generating professional contacts and potential collaborations.
A notable aspect of Catalonia's participation is the collaboration with delegations from Quebec, both regions having a strong presence in culture, innovation, and digital creation. On 22 October, Catalonia and Quebec will jointly host a networking event aimed at international programmers attending the KIKK, creating an informal space for professional discovery and interaction between the two delegations and international programming leaders, while showcasing projects, artists, institutions, and initiatives from both territories.
This mission combines knowledge sharing, professional exchange, and internationalisation, linking the Catalan ecosystem with key institutions in Brussels, the KIKK Festival, and an international network of artists, professionals, programmers, and digital culture agents. The initiative reinforces one of the KIKK's primary objectives: to connect creative and technological ecosystems from different regions and facilitate the transformation of these connections into new opportunities for creation, cooperation, and international projection.
The KIKK Festival is an international event that connects artists, researchers, creators, businesses, and professionals from the creative and digital industries. Throughout the festival, exhibitions, installations, conferences, performances, immersive projects, and professional meeting spaces explore the intersections between artistic creation, science, and new technologies. A distinctive feature of the KIKK is its ability to bring together artistic creation, technological innovation, and research, with a particular focus on new digital languages and immersive experiences. This combination makes the festival a global meeting point for discovering trends, sharing knowledge, and generating new connections across disciplines and territories.
