**xCoAx 2020: 8th International Conference on**
**Computation, Communication, Aesthetics and X**
8-10 July 2020, Graz, Austria
**Extended submission deadline: 16 February 2020**
http://xcoax.org/
**Call for papers, artworks, performances**
xCoAx is an exploration of the intersection where computational tools
and media meet art and culture, in the form of a multi-disciplinary
enquiry on aesthetics, computation, communication and the elusive X
factor that connects them all.
xCoAx has been an occasion for international audiences to meet and
exchange ideas, in search for interdisciplinary synergies among computer
scientists, artists, media practitioners, and theoreticians at the
thresholds between digital arts and culture. Starting in 2013 in
Bergamo, xCoAx has so far taken place also in Porto, Glasgow, Lisbon,
Madrid, and Milan.
The focus of xCoAx is on the unpredictable overlaps between the freedom
of creativity and the rules of algorithms, between human nature and
machine technology, with the aim to evolve towards new directions in
aesthetics.
In 2020 xCoAx will take place in Graz, Austria, directly adjoining the
symposium Algorithms That Matter (ALMAT). On the two days preceding
xCoAx, ALMAT gathers artists and researchers to present and discuss the
relations between algorithmic agency and artistic research, the practice
of algorithmic experimentation and its impact on compositional process.
ALMAT has issued a separate call for participation (
https://almat.iem.at/symposium.html ) and reduced combi-tickets will be
available for xCoAx + ALMAT.
xCoAx 2020 calls for papers, artworks, performances and research
works-in-progress by scholars, artists, performers and students,
respectively, working on any of the multi-disciplinary facets of this
event, which will take over Graz for 3 days, starting July 8th 2020, at
the following venues:
- the CUBE at the Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustic of the
University of Music and Performing Arts Graz
- Forum Stadtpark at the centre of the main city park
- Grazer Kunstverein on the ground floor of the historic Palais
Trautmansdorff in the centre of Graz
- Orchestersaal and the Ligeti Hall of the MUMUTH, the House of Music
and Music Drama.
xCoAx 2020’s keynote speakers are the philosopher of technology Yuk Hui
and new media artist Špela Petrič.
**Topics**
You are invited to submit theoretical, practical or experimental
research work in the form of papers, artworks, and performances, on a
range of topics that includes but is not limited to the following:
- Computation
- Communication
- Aesthetics
- X
- Algorithms / Systems / Models
- Artificial Aesthetics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Audiovisuals / Multimodality
- Creativity
- Design
- Interaction
- Games
- Generative Art / Design
- History
- Mechatronics / Physical Computing
- Music / Sound Art
- Performance
- Philosophy of Art / of Computation
- Technology / Ethics / Epistemology
**Important dates**
- Submission deadline - extended: February 16
- Notifications: March 23 [papers], March 30 [artworks and performances]
- Registration deadline for authors: May 3
- Delivery of final versions: May 3
- Doctoral symposium: July 8
- Exhibition opening, opening cocktail, performances: July 8
- Performances at the Ligeti Hall: July 9
- Conference and exhibition: July 9 & 10
**Submission categories**
**Papers**
5 to 10 pages conference paper, following the formatting in the Word
template at http://xcoax.org/xCoAx_2020_Paper_Template.docx
Revision of papers will be double-blind. Please make sure that the PDF
file is completely anonymized (i.e. omits author-related information in
body of text or as explicit self-citations, notes and bibliography).
Accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings and
allotted 15 minutes presentation time at the conference in the
Orchestersaal in the MUMUTH.
**Doctoral Symposium Abstracts**
Only Master’s and PhD students can apply to present their
work-in-progress and receive feedback from established researchers.
Submit a document, following the formatting in the Word template at
http://xcoax.org/xCoAx_2020_DoctoralSymposium_Template.docx , comprised
of a letter of support from your advisor followed by a 2-page research
paper with 1) Purpose of the research and its importance to the field;
2) Brief survey of background and related work; 3) Description of the
proposed approach; 4) Expected contributions; 5) Progress towards goals.
Revision of proposals will be single-blind. A revised version will be
requested for inclusion in the proceedings after the symposium. Previous
xCoAx Doctoral Symposia were chaired by Frieder Nake, Mario Klingemann,
Philip Galanter, and Simona Chiodo. The Doctoral Symposium will take
place in the Cube at the Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustic of
the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.
**Artworks**
3 to 4 page description paper, following the formatting in the Word
template at
