What is Pure Data?
Pure Data (abbreviated: Pd) is a dataflow programming language. It is inspired by the way early telecommunication switchboards and modules of analogue synthesizers were interconnected by patch cords. Programs written in Pure Data are flowcharts visualizing their function. Musicians and artists are using Pd to perform, create music and artworks. Pure Data is free open source software and developed by University of California, San Diego's Professor Miller Puckette and a global community. It runs on Linux, OS X, Windows and even mobile devices.
What is a Pd-convention?
A Pure Data convention is an event where users and developers meet, discuss and present their research and artworks. It consists of
- A Conference program where developments are presented,
- Workshops for in-depth instructions from professionals aimed at interested beginners, ambitioned users and specialists.
- Concerts and Performances with music made with Pure Data
- An Exhibition of artworks/installations
Previous conventions have been in Graz (2004), Montréal (2007) and São Paulo (2009). The upcoming convention will be the fourth installment of this venue.
Why Weimar?
The close collaboration between Bauhaus-University and Music Academy Franz Liszt where computer science, music, media-arts and media-culture meet create the perfect environment for a Pure Data convention. Weimar has a solid tourist infrastructure with accommodation from budget hostels to 5 star. Weimar is a small place which has many venues and places of interest but is small enough not to get lost or to loose much time in transportation from one place to another.
Involving the public
To interact with the public and integrate the citizens of Weimar a number of initiative-projects should be developed. For instance Radio-Lotte could host a live concert with possibilities for interaction. The porcelain bells of the town-hall could be played remotely in some way. A call for works could be issued to encourage the production of artworks which open up ways to interact with the general public.
When?
The convention will take place after the summer semester 2011, in August, parallel to the Bauhaus Summer school with which we collaborate for the workshops: 2011-8-8 to 2011-8-14 (ISO).
- How to get there
- Preliminary Schedule
Production costs
| Travelling for non-institutional participants | 20,000.- |
| Lodging for invited participants in budget class | 750.- |
| Production cost/support for artists | 2000.- |
| Equipment for exhibition and performaces | sponsored |
| Venue SeaM Werkstattstudio | 6.000,- |
| Venue e-werk | sponsored? |
| Printing, PR: Flyer, Posters, Bags, Accessories | 3,000.- |
| Catalogue | 2,000.- |
| Website | 200.- |
| Translations/proof reading of website and print | 600.- |
| Contract work (Werkvertrag) | 1,500.- |
| 10 assistants (students) salary | 2,800.- |
| Secretary | 1,300.- |
| Postage and communication | 1,000,- |
| Catering, Referentenessen, Buffet | 3,000.- |
| TOTAL estimated production costs | 44,150.- |
When talking to the organizers of the previous Pd-conventions I realized that the costs calculated here are probably too low as the previous venues spent almost double the budget.
Funding
The funding situation seems difficult. Volkswagen Stiftung for example only fund conferences to one specific question with speakers focussing around this. May be that one panel can be condensed something what the Stiftung is willing to support. DFG only funds conferences according to how many speakers have PhD or equivalent. In the last Pd conventions there were only a few. Kunststiftung Thüringen might be another possible partner. EU Funding for Festivals. Sponsors could help to keep the costs at a low level. A travel agency should be among them.
Examples of similar conferences (and their funding) are LAC Köln, LAC Berlin, LAC Karlsruhe, SuperCollider Symposium Berlin
Musikalmanach index of german trusts for funding
| Funding barometer | |
|---|---|
| 30% | 70% |
Partners
- Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
- Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt, Studio for electro-acoustic music
- DEGEM Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Elektroakustische Musik e.V.
- Bauhaus Summer School
Potential Partners
- Kulturmanagment HfM, Prof Höhne
- City of Weimar
- Sparkassenstiftung Weimar Förderung Deadline 15.2.
- Radio Lotte
- Reality Jockey Ltd. RjDj
- Kreativfonds
- Electronic Arts (Maxis)
- De:Bug
- Kunstfest Weimar
- tlm
- dnt
- bpb
- rme-audio
- Klangprojekte Weimar, Michael von Hintzenstern
- TU-Ilmenau
- IDMT Fraunhofer, IOSONO
- VST Erfurt
Club MateBionade- Ehringsdorfer
Social Media + Promotion
- Hashtag #PDC11