Virtual journeys through Europe’s soccer culture, digital solutions to strengthen democracy and a virtual reality opera – Places 2024 was all this and more. For ten days, Germany’s number one festival for virtual reality presented the latest state of the art in Gelsenkirchen and, above all, its added value for a wide range of social areas. The Places Festival will once again take place in Gelsenkirchen from 16 to 25 May. For the fifth time, we will be bringing the latest extended reality technology to life – for everyone and free of charge! Whether you’re an XR expert, start-up, entrepreneur or simply interested in the latest developments in VR and AR: This year, the festival offers 10 days full of XR experiences throughout Gelsenkirchen! The highlight of the festival is the closing day on 25 May. We look forward to meeting you at Places 2024! Three creative people from outside the neighbourhood come to the Kreativ.Quartier Ückendorf as artists in residence. While they live here for a week during the neighbourhood phase, they get to know the district and its people. Their task is to create one or more artistic representations of the neighbourhood in XR based on their experiences. The results will be presented to the public at the festival and will continue to be exhibited in the mxr lab afterwards. In the FeVR Pitches exhibition, you can immerse yourself in the diversity of European football culture using VR glasses. Local guides who know the pitch inside out will take you by the hand in virtual reality and show you the special features and highlights. Don’t just see what makes the pitch unique, experience it! At the same time, you will gain an insight into the football culture of the respective European country in the run-up to EURO 2024. Behind the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN) is a grand, global vision: to create a better and more sustainable world for all. However, global change starts at a much smaller level: with each and every one of us. In the “Tech for Good” exhibition, you can experience the 17 sustainability goals in virtual reality with the help of VR glasses. Different approaches are used. The goals are depicted in an artistic, documentary or playful way. The exhibition “Extended Reality for the People of Europe” showcases outstanding European XR applications aimed at strengthening human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The exhibition will be complemented by a series of lectures by recognised experts, which will further explore the question of how the European idea and European values can shape virtual worlds today and in the future. “At the End of the World ” is a walk-in sci-fi XR chamber music theatre for actress, singer and electronic playback, which celebrates its premiere in cooperation with MiR.LAB (Musiktheater im Revier) as part of the Places Festival. In addition to XR experiences and exhibitions, the Places Festival also offers the opportunity to dive deeper into technology yourself. In different workshop formats, you have the opportunity to educate yourself in various tech topics from XR to AI. No matter whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, and no matter whether you are professionally interested or privately enthusiastic. We want to see you dance! Movement is good for you and dancing lifts your spirits – even in virtual reality. If you want to see this for yourself, you can do so at the Places Festival in the VRoom. Discover various dance games and beat the high scores with your dance moves!This was the
Places
Festival
2024!This was the
Places
Festival
2024!Experiencing and exploring Extended Reality!
For the fifth time since 2018, the Places Festival took place in Gelsenkirchen last Saturday, May 25, 2024. Since 16 May, a total of seven sub-events at various venues across the city have showcased the latest innovations in virtual and augmented reality.10 days XR in Gelsenkirchen
→ 16 - 25 May 2024 ←
10 days XR
in Gelsenkirchen→ 16 - 25 May 2024 ←
Dive into virtual realities!
Programme 2024
Places Residency
Exhibition [25 MAY]
FeVR Pitches
Exhibition [16 - 25 MAY]
Tech for Good
Exhibition [21 - 25 MAY]
XR for the People of Europe
Exhibition, lectures & panels [25 MAY]
AT THE END OF THE WORLD
XR Sci-Fi music theatre [22 - 25 MAY]
XR, AI & Game Design
Workshops [23 & 25 MAY]
VR Dance Special
Entertainment [25 MAY]
FURTHER PROGRAMME ITEMS WILL BE PUBLISHED SHORTLY.