ArtBots is pleased to announce that the fifth international ArtBots exhibition for robotic art and art-making robots will take place at the Trinity College Science Gallery in Dublin, Ireland on September 19-21, 2008. Creators of talented robots are invited to submit their work for possible inclusion in the show. Deadline: May 1, 2008.

We have no fixed idea of what qualifies as robotic art; if you think it’s a robot and you think it’s art, we encourage you to submit your work. Regardless of whether it’s hi-tech, low-tech, or neg-tech, we’re interested in the ideas you’re working with, not just the gear. Proposals for workshops, performances, and other kinds of participation are also welcome.

Each ArtBots is a bit different; the location changes and we invite new humans to co-curate the show with us. We hope that by changing the specifics of the show each year we can keep it accessible to a diverse range of people, works, and ideas.

This year’s co-curators are: Warren Ellis: author of novels, comics, video games, and screenplays; blogger and creator of numerous online forums; Marie Redmond: computer science professor; director of the MSc Multimedia Systems Course, Trinity College; entrepreneur; Douglas Repetto: artist and teacher; Director of Research at the Columbia University Computer Music Center, director and founder of ArtBots, dorkbot, organism, and music-dsp.

ArtBots is a hands-on, community-oriented show, run by and for artists. Participating artists install their own work and are present during the show to meet one another, maintain their pieces, and talk with visitors. Each participant is given a 1000 Euro artist fee to help cover the cost of attending. All costs, including shipping, travel, lodging, meals, etc., are the responsibility of the artist. While we cannot provide additional monetary resources, we are happy to provide invitation letters or other documents that might help artists with local grant applications, sponsorships, etc.

Important Dates:

Deadline for entries: 1 May
Acceptance notifications sent: 2 June
Artists confirm participation by: 16 June
Show load-in and installation: 16-18 September
Show open: 19-21 September
Breakdown and load-out: 22 September

The Science Gallery is a new public science centre located in the heart of Dublin city. A place where ideas meet, the Gallery will bring together people with diverse interests and backgrounds including creative thinkers and young innovators, to connect, explore, create, debate and share ideas on science, technology and the arts, opening up these fields to new audiences. The Science Gallery ’space’ consists of a 144-seater multimedia theatre, studios, café and stunning open gallery space, providing an ideal location for new emerging creative talent to be discovered through a programme of changing exhibitions, events and workshops. With a target audience of 15 year olds up and an emphasis on creating a collaborative community, the Science Gallery, which launched in February 2008 with LIGHTWAVE, a nine-day festival exploring the art and science of controlling light already has over 2000 members.