Urban Future Public Space Lab: Art, Design & Technology for People
Course Type: Flavour School
Join the ACE²-EU Flavour School and create light-based art experiences for the Riga Light Festival. In international, interdisciplinary teams, you’ll explore the city, develop concepts, and turn ideas into real, public-space installations. Learn hands-on skills in design, technology, sustainability, and collaboration, while producing a complete project plan that could be realised in the festival. This course is perfect for any student passionate about creativity, innovation, and making an impact in urban environments.
Duration and Timeline:
- Total contact hours: 25 hours (on-site)
- On-site mobility week: 31 August – 4 September 2026
- Location: Riga, Latvia
Award, Credits and Certification
Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be awarded:
- 2 ECTS credits
- Certificate of Attendance
The specific requirements for the recognition of ECTS credits must be confirmed by each partner institution.
Organising Institutions
Lead and Host Institution
- Latvian Academy of Culture (Latvia)
- Elizabete Palasiosa
Partner Institutions
- Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (Spain)
- María Gutiérrez Pérez
- Claudia Peinado Cruz
- Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (Austria)
- Andrea Stitzel
- Georg Riesenhuber
- Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (Germany)
- Stefanie Wrobel
- Medical University of Gdańsk (Poland)
- Aniela Brzezińska
External Stakeholders
- Riga Light Festival
- Riga City Municipality
Course Description
The ACE²-EU Flavour School is an intensive, practice-based programme held in Riga, where students from diverse disciplines collaborate in international teams to design festival-ready light-art concepts for public space.
Participants will learn how to move from early exploration and idea generation to a clear and feasible project plan by integrating:
- Artistic narrative and storytelling
- Site-specific spatial design
- Technical planning (lighting sources, power supply, control systems)
- Safety and sustainability considerations
The course responds to the growing demand for professionals capable of designing meaningful, environmentally responsible interventions in real urban contexts—skills increasingly relevant across the creative industries, technology, and public-sector innovation.
Learning Structure
Online Component
- Pre-briefing online session (date to be confirmed after registration)
On-site Component (Mobility Week)
Students will work in interdisciplinary teams with continuous mentor support following a structured five-day process:
- On-site sessions: During the mobility week, students work in interdisciplinary teams with mentor support through a structured 5-day process.
Day 1 – Urban Exploration & Sensory Mapping
Introduction to the Riga Light Festival and light as a spatial and social medium. Guided site visits, location scouting, documentation, and group reflection.
Day 2 – Team Formation & Thematic Focus
Balanced team formation, expert inputs, ideation sessions, and initial concept framing, including audience definition and intended format.
Day 3 – Concept Definition & Spatial Strategy
Development of a site-specific concept, narrative, and interaction strategy. Site revisits for measurements and constraints. Mid-review critique focusing on clarity and feasibility.
Day 4 – Prototyping & Technical Development
Prototype testing and technical planning (lighting, power, control systems, materials, and assembly). Safety and sustainability checks, including weather resistance, public safety, and low-impact or reusable materials.
Day 5 – Final Project Definition & Presentation
Finalisation of drawings, technical specifications, activation or performance plans, and production timelines. Presentation of a feasible project package and reflective discussion on teamwork and public-space practice.
Follow-up and Reflection
After the on-site week, each team will finalise and submit a feasible project package, including:
- Concept description
- Site documentation and analysis
- Drawings, diagrams, or prototype evidence
- Technical solution
- Implementation and dismantling plan
Online team check-ins (dates to be confirmed) will support completion and readiness for potential production.
There is a real possibility that selected projects may be produced and installed as part of the Riga Light Festival such cases, teams may be invited to follow the project through practical set-up and, where applicable, participate during the festival period.
Specific Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Conduct a site analysis for a light-based public-space intervention by documenting context, user flows, accessibility, and visibility, and summarising findings into a clear location rationale.
- Develop a site-specific concept and narrative that defines the intended audience experience and the role of light (e.g., atmosphere, signal, interaction trigger) in an urban environment.
- Translate a creative idea into a feasible project plan by defining technical requirements for light sources, power, and control methods appropriate to the site conditions.
- Create and test a prototype (model, performative test, etc.) to validate key elements of the concept.
- Apply safety and sustainability criteria by identifying risks (public safety, weather resistance) and selecting low-impact or reusable materials and practical assembly methods.
- Produce a complete “feasible project package” including concept text, site documentation, drawings/diagrams or prototype evidence, technical solution description, and an implementation plan (set-up/dismantling timeline).
- Communicate and defend the project clearly through a final presentation that explains the concept, site justification, technical approach, and implementation steps.
- Collaborate effectively in an interdisciplinary, international team by taking defined roles (artistic/performative, spatial/design, technical/production) and reflecting on the collaboration process.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate students from ACE²-EU partner universities in areas such as:
- Art, Design, Architecture, Spatial and Landscape Design
- Media Arts, IT/Creative Technologies, Interaction Design
- Performing Arts, Sound Design, Dramaturgy
- Urban and Environmental Studies
It is particularly relevant for students interested in:
- Site-specific light art and public-space interventions
- Interdisciplinary teamwork and prototyping
- Developing festival-ready, real-world projects
Recommended Language Level
- English B1–B2 (working language of the course)
Application Process:
Interested applicants should apply via the online form:
🔗 Apply here: https://forms.gle/TPcyPaCeBerDcSVh6
- Application deadline: 10 May 2026
- Notification of acceptance: 17 May 2026
(Acceptance letters will be issued by the host institution and will include programme details.)
Further Information
For any further information or queries related to the course, please contact:
