Dubai: In a move that reinforces its position as a global centre for creativity and innovation, Dubai is hosting the 31st edition of the International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art (ISEA2026 Dubai), which brings together artistic experiences, technological developments, issues of identity, memory and sustainability, as well as providing opportunities to support creators and keep pace with the transformations that artificial intelligence brings to the future of the arts.
The conference, which begins on November 6, will run for 10 days, with the participation of more than 50 countries, presenting more than 100 artworks that combine art with technology, more than 145 academic papers, more than 40 dialogue and discussion sessions, as well as 20 creative workshops.
Shaima Rashid Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Arts and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), said: “Dubai’s hosting of the 31st edition of the conference, which is the largest in its history, represents an important step in the emirate’s journey, as it embodies its success in attracting the most prominent international platforms that bring together artists, researchers, innovators and specialists in the fields of art, science and technology, thus consolidating its position as a global centre for digital and promising arts.”
She added: “This hosting is an extension of the Authority’s efforts aimed at leading the growth of the digital arts sector, creating an environment that supports artistic production, research and experimentation, and provides creative projects with new investment opportunities. Dubai’s experience in this field is distinguished by its combination of technological innovation, cultural diversity and local identity, and the use of these elements in developing artistic experiences that interact with the city and its community.”
She explained that the conference adopts a model that combines a virtual academic program that allows participation from all over the world, and an in-person artistic program that is distributed across different locations in the emirate, enabling the public to interact with the artworks.
A logo that embodies the vision
Shaima believes that the conference's slogan, "ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data and Identity" embodies an artistic vision that draws inspiration from the relationship between humans and the universe and place, and explores the ability of technology to offer new readings of identity, memory, and human experiences.
It also evokes the connection of Emirati people to the stars, which they used in ancient times for navigation and determining directions, and re-presents this relationship in a contemporary context. She pointed out that the conference's themes explore digital geography, intercultural dialogue, environmental responsibility, and the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence, and present artistic models that illustrate how data and modern technologies can be employed in reading the transformations that society is witnessing, reinterpreting cultural heritage, and creating new forms of expressing identity.
She pointed out that the conference’s receipt of more than 1,000 artistic submissions reflects the extent of international interest in the event and the diversity of creative experiences that explore the new possibilities of technology in the arts.
Shaima noted that the evaluation process was based on a set of criteria that included artistic quality, originality and innovation, the extent to which the works relate to the conference’s slogan and themes, their ability to create an artistic and intellectual impact, as well as their feasibility and suitability to the nature of the artistic program and exhibition spaces.
Developing an integrated system
Shaima affirmed that Dubai Culture, through its diverse initiatives and programs, seeks to develop an integrated digital arts ecosystem that supports innovation, safeguards creators' rights, and provides them with an environment that allows them to benefit from technological advancements while preserving the authenticity and diversity of their work, especially in light of the transformations in artistic production methods brought about by artificial intelligence.
She emphasised that achieving this balance requires establishing responsible ethical and professional practices based on respect for intellectual property rights, protecting the privacy of artists and their creative output, and ensuring transparency in the use of data and content. These aspects constitute some of the issues that will be addressed at the ISEA2026 conference.
She revealed that the conference will discuss, within the theme of “Environmental Technology Futures,” ways to employ digital arts in raising awareness of environmental issues and encouraging the responsible use of technology, in order to reduce its impact on natural resources, indicating that these arts provide broad possibilities for transforming scientific data related to climate and the environment into interactive artistic experiences that help the public understand environmental challenges and their implications for daily life.
She noted that the distribution of the art program across multiple locations in Dubai reflects Dubai Culture's commitment to integrating digital arts into the city's cultural landscape and daily life, and providing wider segments of society with the opportunity to discover and engage with them. The selection of diverse spaces, including cultural institutions, galleries, and public areas, contributes to offering artistic experiences tailored to the nature of each location and its audience, and imbues the artworks with new dimensions connected to the venues where they are displayed.
Impact measurement
Regarding the impact the conference will have, Al Suwaidi said: “The Authority will give special importance to measuring the long-term impact of the ISEA2026 conference, as a tool to evaluate its contribution to the development of the digital and emerging arts sector, going beyond the traditional indicators related to the number of participants and visitors and the size of the artistic and academic programs.
The impact assessment will be based on three main axes, addressing the professional and productive opportunities available to Emirati artists and residents in Dubai, the extent of the development of projects from the research or initial presentation stage to implementation, as well as the economic and investment opportunities that may arise from the conference. The assessment will also include following up on artistic commissions, new works and international participations, and monitoring the initiatives and projects that continue to be implemented after the conclusion of its activities.”
She noted Dubai’s endeavour to build an integrated system for digital and emerging arts, and the launch of the Digital Art Museum embodies Dubai’s direction towards enhancing investment in culture and innovation, developing the concept of museums and transforming them into interactive spaces that combine art and technology, and provide the public with diverse creative experiences.
Sustainable projects
Shaima Rashid Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Arts and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), affirmed that Dubai Culture will leverage the ISEA2026 conference by utilising its outcomes to achieve the objectives of the Digital Arts Roadmap.
This will enhance the continuity of artistic and research production and transform the knowledge generated by the conference into tangible cultural and economic value. She anticipated that the academic program, comprising approximately 145 research papers, will provide a knowledge base that will facilitate the exploration of new opportunities for production, research, and application, as well as identify areas of collaboration with cultural institutions, universities, research centres, and technology companies.
She noted that the importance of the next phase following the conference lies in monitoring the ideas and projects presented by participants, assessing their feasibility, and connecting them with entities capable of incubating or supporting their production. This phase will also explore opportunities to showcase the resulting works within Dubai's cultural programs and venues, enabling the development of these projects and ensuring their long-term sustainability.