About MUTEK Forum
A platform and gathering for bold ideas in digital creation
MUTEK Forum is a platform, gathering, and marketplace dedicated to exploring, developing, and showcasing creative technologies for artistic research, creation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
MUTEK Forum creates a space where artists and technology professionals come together to expand collective imaginaries through alternative perspectives and bold, radical ideas. Through artist residency and development programmes, talks, screenings, masterclasses, networking events, demos, and workshops, MUTEK Forum critically examines technological futures and the role of digital creativity within them. MUTEK Forum takes a distinctly artist-centered approach, emphasizing innovative practices, practical conversations, ethical considerations, and ecological sustainability in technology. MUTEK Forum facilitates knowledge sharing, international networking among industry professionals, and the showcasing of the most recent, innovative, and inspiring practices in digital creation technologies.
Since its inaugural edition in 2013, MUTEK Forum’s annual gathering in August brings together artists, institutions, researchers, technology professionals, digital experts, curators, and innovators, fostering collaboration and dialogue across disciplines. Spanning a range of interdisciplinary fields, including music, artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality (XR), ecology, media art, gaming, architecture, and design, the Forum addresses the intersections between these areas to inspire new connections and ideas.
With its Market component, a MUTEK-led program for accelerating and developing artists' careers, the Forum reinforces its mission to to develop and accompany professionals in the sector. By highlighting the talent of local artists, MUTEK Forum fosters artistic connections and business opportunities. The Market is an essential showcase platform for electronic music and digital arts. Its particular appeal lies in its ability to bring together a wide range of buyers, programmers, curators and multi-faceted festivals in one place.
The Market has enabled international industry professionals to stay abreast of the most innovative projects and observe emerging trends. It also helps emerging Quebec and Canadian artists performing at the MUTEK Festival in their career development.
Key Activities
Annual MUTEK Forum Gathering in Montréal: An international event held during MUTEK, as daytime festival programming, bringing together a diverse community of artists, technologists, and innovators.
MUTEK Market: A dedicated initiative for artist career development and networking between exciting emerging talent and international decision makers. This includes invite-only networking events, 1:1 meetings between artists and buyers and studio visits.
MUTEK Incubator: A program supporting the next generation of artists through personalized mentorship and professionalization.
Research and Creation: Residencies, labs, and think tanks, for example initiatives like Future Festivals and AI Ecologies Lab.
International Educational and Professional Events: MUTEK Forum hosted or co-presented talks and workshops held internationally, at satellite MUTEK events or with partner festivals.
Export Missions Abroad: Professional delegations organized by MUTEK in cities like Barcelona, Mexico City, and Tokyo, fostering global connections.
