Activities
To realize these objectives switch media aims at the following:

sm_ library: a public new media art library. The seed stock for this library is already available and will grow in time. At the moment a partime volunteer devotes his time for this task. switch media seeks partners and donators for future development (e.g. facilities, archive-and-retrieval equipment, presentation equipment, funding for operational costs).

sm_ lounge: a public forum for lectures, workshops, discussions on different aspects of new media art. sm_ lounge focuses mainly on topics which aren’t available to an interested audiences (as not being taught), not presented in the realms of new media art (e.g. economics, infra-structure, technological development, management) or show a different perspective (e.g. lectures by professionals, artists, academics from foreign countries). switch media seeks partners and donators for future development (e.g. facilities, presentation equipment, donations for invitations, funding for operational costs).

sm_ projects: switch media invites interested parties to realize projects in the realms of new media art. These might be on a local, national or international level. These might be simple or elaborate. It’s these kind of projects which give the involved the opportunity to actually work with new media, to experience the inherent problems (artistic approach and expression, technological limitations, financial restrictions, asf), to cooperate with people from different backgrounds and finally to realize an artistic vision. Each of these projects will be realized on its own – its own project-management, its own budget, its own partners. switch media’s role is that of a facilitator.

sm_ lab: switch media aims at setting up a small-scale production facility (“laboratory”/”lab”) where interested parties find the opportunity to actually express their artistic vision – with video-, sound-, computer-technology, asf. The lab is essential for the setup of a sustainable local/regional community where hands-on-experiences and knowledge can be shared. It is also essential as a basic for project realizations. It shall also be used for “artists-in-residency”-projects organized by different partners. The typical artist approach is to lend, borrow, “organize” the needed equipment on an informal, private level – switch media aims to professionalize the workflow and seeks partners and donators (on an international level) for the lab’s setup.

sm_ festival: as part of switch media’s general activities we will organize a new media art festival in Chiang Mai in March-April 2004, title: pathiharn electron [supernatural]. As this is a mayor project it is mentioned separately. The following is a very brief outline! The festival shall serve different objectives:
a) to create a festive event and athmosphere for the people, the involved parties, the guests; a celebration of the mind and the senses.
b) to present new media art work mainly (but not exclusively!) from the SEA region to evaluate the contemporary situation – with its own artistic approach and expression, its own theoretical and practical difficulties and options for future development.
c) as a focal point for interested parties from the overall region and the international community to enjoy a festival with its own specific Thai profile.
d) to develop and test an infra-institutional international sustainable network on academic, artistic, technological, commercial and governmental level.
e) as an option to present the efforts from the different parties involved in the development of the Chiang Mai region as a new media/ICT center.

The festival is called switch media_ pathiharn electron [supernatural]. This title/topic allows the exploration of different aspects of new media art in the region:
a tradition of visual imagery/language with regards to pathiharn/supernatural – e.g. as found in movies/videos, computer-games, animations -- and as different from western forms of expression
contemporary new media expression as found in 3D, animation and special effects
a strong religious/spiritual tradition with impact on the society at large
the realm of digital media in itself, “cybersphere” – which for many people is a miracle not only in itself but also able to generate and tell marvels.

The festival’s concept/title allows not only for a wide range of artworks from the different fields of new media, it also enables a critical evaluation of the role of new media for contemporary society in SEA.
switch media seeks local, national and international partners for the realization of the festival..