The RESONANS festival unfolds over six days, each dedicated to unique themes and artistic expressions. This multifaceted approach creates a dynamic platform for exploring the intersections of multimedia arts, community engagement, and cultural diversity. Each day serves as a distinct container for thematic exploration, fostering a rich dialogue surrounding pressing social and environmental issues. Through carefully curated programming, the festival aims to stimulate the senses, promote mental sustainability, and enhance the visibility and support of participating artists. This strategic design aligns with contemporary practices in artistic research, which emphasize the importance of collaboration, dialogue, and community involvement in the creative process (Bishop, 2012; Rancière, 2009).

Day 1: Opening Reception and Multimedia Art Exhibition

The festival opens with a reception at the Red Door, featuring a multimedia art exhibition by Esben Holk, "FEED" accompanied by a poetry open mic and concert at La Fee Verte.

This inaugural day establishes a welcoming atmosphere, inviting attendees to engage with multimedia art and spoken word in a relaxed setting. The thematic focus on “beginning” allows for exploration of initial connections among diverse artistic practices.

Sensory stimulation is achieved through visual art that converses on the overwhelming amount of information we receive from our digital/societal surroundings, as well as a curated selection of readings on the subjects of our ability to connect, live performances, and the intimate ambiance of the venue.

By prioritizing mental sustainability, this day encourages participants to reflect on their artistic journeys, promoting emotional well-being and community cohesion through familiar environments, spaces for networking and getting to know one another, live music and open mic spaces for sharing current work and introducing renown authors and emerging writers / performers in same spaces (Thompson, 2015).

Day 2: Book Presentations and Live Music at Literatur Haus

The second day centers on literary exploration with book presentations and live music at Literatur Haus. This includes book releases of Latin American anthologies, Nordic publications, and a curated selection of international performers.

This day emphasizes the narrative power of multimedia arts, fostering discussions about how stories can transcend cultural boundaries.

The sensory experience is enriched by a blend of spoken word "poetry takeover", music, and visual elements, creating an immersive environment that encourages deeper engagement.

The focus on literature promotes mental sustainability by highlighting the importance of narrative as a means of connection and understanding, but the experience is completed by the focus on experimental music and live performances with music to give the brain an opportunity to process the received information and be activated in an alternate way.

This approach supports local authors and musicians, enhancing their visibility and facilitating collaboration among artists (Eagleton, 2008).

Day 3: Experimental Music and Visual Arts

On the third day, the festival showcases experimental music at ArtLab21 and features exhibitions by Jose Osorio at ArtLab21, Kirsten Reynolds at Leafs KBH, HG Madsen at Literatur Haus, and Madam Neverstop at Showroom Figur.

This day serves as a container for innovative artistic expressions, challenging conventional forms and encouraging participants to explore new modes of creativity.

The sensory stimulation provided by experimental soundscapes and visual art installations invites audiences to engage actively with the artworks.

By fostering a culture of experimentation, this day promotes mental sustainability, encouraging artists and audiences alike to embrace risk and innovation. Supporting these experimental artists is crucial for diversifying the cultural landscape and fostering new artistic collaborations (Bourdieu, 1993).

The day finalized with live concerts.

Day 4: Resonance is US - being part of a community

The fourth day aligns with Kulturnatten at Møllegade, a giving back and interacting with members of our community who don't often participate in the other artistic settings we as artists are used to, such as galleries and museums. The idea here is to open our doors to the people, and listen. We did this by throwing a street party that involved book stands, comic stands, a bar, a foodtruck, 6 galleries open, a stage, and the featuring of the Poetic Phonotheque and various performances / film screenings at Ark Books and Literatur Haus.

This day focuses on community engagement and cultural exchange, providing a platform for local artists to showcase their work.

By incorporating audio-visual elements and live performances, the festival stimulates the senses and fosters a sense of belonging among participants. The emphasis on poetic expressions encourages mental sustainability by connecting individuals through shared narratives and experiences.

This day reinforces the festival’s commitment to supporting local talent and facilitating intercultural dialogue (Nussbaum, 2011).

Day 5: Bound Beat - Book Fair and Concert Night

Day five features Bound Beat, a book fair at Literatur Haus, alongside an exhibition by HG Madsen and a concert night at Stengade. This day serves as a celebration of literary arts and community engagement, bringing together authors, musicians, and audiences in a collaborative environment. The sensory stimulation of live music and interactive book displays enhances the festival experience, encouraging participants to engage with the works of local artists. The focus on literary and musical collaboration promotes mental sustainability by fostering connections and conversations among diverse cultural representatives.

This day exemplifies the festival’s dedication to creating a supportive network for artists, and was designed to also serve as a "landing" after the big party from the day before, through more intimate performances, readings and talks, the opportunity to exchange books and accompany one another (Fowler, 2017).

Day 6: Nature & Culture - Poetry Film Festival

The festival culminates in the Nature & Culture Poetry Film Festival at Empire Bio. This final day encapsulates the festival's overarching themes of environmental consciousness and cultural diversity. The integration of film as a medium allows for a rich exploration of narratives related to humanity's relationship with the environment.

The sensory experience is heightened through visual storytelling and sound design, inviting audiences to reflect on their connections to nature and culture.

By emphasizing the importance of artistic expression in addressing global challenges, this day reinforces the festival's commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration among artists and audiences alike (Dixon, 2020).

Conclusion

The RESONANS festival exemplifies a holistic approach to artistic research, where each day serves as a specific container for exploring the multifaceted nature of multimedia arts. By prioritizing sensory stimulation, mental sustainability, and artist support, the festival fosters an inclusive environment that encourages dialogue and collaboration among diverse communities. This strategic design aligns with contemporary artistic practices, highlighting the significance of community engagement in the creative process.

References

• Bishop, C. (2012). Artificial Hells: Participatory Art and the Politics of Spectatorship. Verso.
• Bourdieu, P. (1993). The Field of Cultural Production: Essays on Art and Literature. Columbia University Press.
• Dixon, T. (2020). The Art of Environmental Activism: The Role of Multimedia in Modern Movements. Environmental Arts Journal, 12(1), 45-60.
• Eagleton, T. (2008). Literary Theory: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Fowler, C. (2017). Creative Communities: The Role of Arts in Community Development. Journal of Community Development, 22(2), 101-115.
• Nussbaum, M. (2011). Creating Capabilities: The Human Development Approach. Harvard University Press.
• Rancière, J. (2009). The Emancipated Spectator. Verso.
• Thompson, J. (2015). The Art of Reflection: Creative Practices for Mental Sustainability. Arts & Health, 7(4), 323-332.