AI and XR tools for better understanding, preservation, enjoyment and accessibility.

WE are initiating a new Horizon Europe project funded by the European Union and coordinated by Athena Research Center. The project will last for 3 years and it focuses on modernising the performing arts, especially dance and theatre, by using advanced digital technologies, to support the whole lifecycle of performances; from their production and curation by both amateurs and professionals, to their delivery and understanding from the audience, as well as their analysis and interpretation by art scholars.

For the production process PREMIERE will provide tools for rehearsing and performing and will also define a capturing and storing protocol for new performances. Regarding existing artifacts, PREMIERE will use digital tools for indexing and curating existing dance and theatre archives. On the understanding and enrichment stage, the old and new-born digital artifacts will be analysed and enriched using Artificial Intelligence methods and will be encapsulated into a Virtual Reality world with advanced navigation functionalities. On the distribution stage the added value derived from the use of such technologies will be demonstrated by providing VR browsing and VR streaming interfaces for reaching a variety of end-users. Ultimately, project work will enhance the understanding, preservation and enjoyment of and accessibility to performing arts.

The PREMIERE consortium is composed of 12 partners from 6 different countries (GR, CY, FR, ES, PT and NL) covering a variety of expertise, from information technology experts, art scholars, creative industries, content owners, dance and theater groups, art education and industry and business partners. Throughout the span of the project a variety of outreach activities that target several user groups such as individual artists, theater and dance groups, theater venues, creative and media industries, arts scholars, technological institutions and the general public will be organized.

Enhanching Performing Arts with Digital Innovation

Exploring digital technologies as a creative and analytical means for the performing arts is the driver of the Premiere research. How can the performing arts integrate cutting-edge technologies in a practical and meaningful way? On this pages we explain the tools we are creating for the different domains of the performing practice, from creation to preservation.
We aim at making the results of the project accessible and reusable by the research community and the cultural and creative industries.