Abstract:

The project RESet, short for "exploring and transforming resonance spaces", starts exactly where people feel that they are detached. Their lack of trust in state institutions, lack of understanding of values ​​and also the loss of cohesion in society are omnipresent and have become even clearer in the last elections at state and federal level. RESet aims to reclaim these people and promote their participation through innovative methods and digital tools for shaping social coexistence. Digitization has arrived at the people and the tools can take the potential and create a positive experience. Thus, RESet is contrary to tendencies of apathy, isolation or radicalization in society. RESet forms the human counterpart to the ubiquitous digital automation.

It´s not only about to explore the breaches in social cohesion, but also bring the gained insights Immediately into the practical work. Through the direct connection of theory and practice as the core issues of the project, innovations in educational formats and digital tools will be tested in the PS2 Digital Impact Lab Bremen and at locations in Lower Saxony. RESet thus promotes the development of resonance rooms and opportunities for participation. The resulting feedback enables the continuous improvement of the proven methods and digital tools in RESet.

RESet aims to improve the participation of individuals through research and practical testing of digital tools. With this, RESet wants to increase the quality of life experience of people who have hitherto considered themselves not heard. With this initiative, the BMBF is focusing its attention on dealing with the current social change and coping with the resulting social challenges.

Reset is based on the sustainable results of The People’s Smart Sculpture PS2 – Social Art in European Spaces Creative Europe Project. PS2 is a creative research and innovation project about the cultural evolution of the European city of the future. It addresses the growing complexity of life in today’s city spaces and imminent challenges to the development of the urban environment. The People’s Smart Sculpture PS2 explored the possibilities of participation that will become a smart culture technique as a result of the ongoing digitalization of society in 11 creative experiments of digital art and new forms of participation. While some PS2 sub-projects shed light on the ways we perceive our city space, or create speculative city environments, others will analyse problems, identify challenges and explore interdisciplinary solutions with citizens. The variety of approaches reflect the diversity of people, skills, urban art, social processes and urban development.

Digital technologies did not only play an important role in the PS2 project activities themselves, but directly support the innovation process by offering new opportunities for empowerment and societal integration of people of all social groups. The project connected people and fostered the exchange of ideas about people´s participation in and for smart cities. It is the base for cutting-edge communication between science and art, creatives, artists and citizens, and between the people and their governments. At the same time it motivated the broad dissemination of new skills, design expertise and social knowledge relevant to social resonance and the people´s participation in the re-design of their living environment.

Keywords:

Digital Impact Labs, Social Resonance, RESet, The People’s Smart Sculpture, PS2, BMBF, Creative Europe.