2024: The Challenge

by Mads Hobye

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ARTS ● ACTIVISM ● CIRCULARITY

*Roskilde Festival and Roskilde University invite students to contribute to developing experimental and co-creative experiences for the participants at Roskilde Festival - a living laboratory. *

Use Roskilde Festival to explore experiences in which art and culture invite participants to reflect on circularity, sustainability, and co-creation

Art and culture can take on a variety of expression forms, e.g., architecture, technology. Sustainability is seen in its broadest sense, both in terms of social, environmental, economic, and cultural aspects. Solutions can be technical designs, process-oriented courses, games, workshops, etc. addressing questions like:

  • How can we in practice perceive the four bottom lines of Roskilde Festivals sustainability concept: environment, social, art, and economics?
  • How can we offer inclusive spaces and communities to participants with special needs, diverse cultural backgrounds, functional capabilities, and identities?
  • How can we prevent abusive behaviour and encourage a supportive atmosphere?
  • How can we support new friendships, e.g., games, room for reflection, and facilities for dancing?

Project formats:

The living laboratory will be located in the festival area called BAZAR. The intention with the BAZAR area is to offer an area, where participants can rest or join various activities addressing sustainability and circularity. Your project should fit within one the following three formats:

  • As a permanent installation on a light pole. This format ensures you have power and a solid base to mount your installation on. It is expected that the installation works on its own and that you maintain it during the music period.
  • As a temporary workshop/demo. It will be possible to present and experiment with workshops, installations, and demos in which you are present and facilitate the experience. Here, you are expected to unpack and pack into a storage container for each session you run.
  • As pop-up projects. Suppose your projects allow you to create experiments around the festival or camping area. In this case, it is expected that the size of your project is easily portable by yourself (think in terms of a backpack with gear).

You are responsible for building, maintaining, staffing, and dismantling your own project at Roskilde Festival.

How to participate and important dates

For you to be able to mature your project for the final submission, we have a kick-off and a hackathon.

The following dates and deadlines are important to be aware of:

  • 16 February: Kick-off - FabLab RUC: The kick-off will be a general introduction and a place to brainstorm and work on your ideas.
  • 12 April: Hackathon - FabLab RUC: The hackathon is an entire workday where you can build your prototype in the FabLab and get feedback on durability. Finally, the finishing touches can be done in May at the FabLab.
  • 22 April: Deadline for submission of applications to Roskilde Festival

Submit your application through this form

  • 1 May: Notification of application
  • 27-31 May: Project week in FabLab with technical support
  • 21 June: General test (generalprøve)
  • 2 July: Reception and presentation of projects at Bazar
  • 29 June to 6 July Roskilde Festival

Criteria for selection of projects

For your project to be considered for the Roskilde living laboratory, it needs to fit within the following criteria:

  • It is an investigation in which you test and evaluate your idea at the festival.
  • It creates a meaningful change for the participants during the festival.
  • It is realistic and feasible for you to execute yourself.
  • It uses reused/recycled materials.
  • It reflects on sustainability in its broadest sense.

The selection committee consists of representatives from Roskilde Festival and Roskilde University.

Contact persons

Roskilde Festival:

Birgitte Rasmussen, birgitte.rasmussen@roskilde-festival.dk

Roskilde Universitet:

  • Mads Hobye, Computer Science hobye@ruc.dk (academic)
  • Nicolas Padfield, Fablab RUC nicolasp@ruc.dk (practical)
  • Allan Grønbæk, Rektorsekretariat eksterne samarbejder allang@ruc.dk (collaboration, contracts etc.)