TECH//ART – Connect//Together
STEAM Residency & Multidisciplinary Workshop Program
2024–2025 · Oulu & Aveiro
🎛️ Concept & Pedagogy
TECH//ART was conceived as a process-driven creative residency where technology serves as a medium for artistic expression rather than a fixed outcome. Led by the SääToSuccess working group (Basti Kuhz & Jussi Alaraasakka), the program invites youth to explore emerging tools—sound production, DJing, VR/AR, 3D printing, and data-driven art—through collaborative, choice-based workshops.
Participants select their areas of interest, co-create with peers, and collectively decide how their work is presented: as physical objects, digital media, web archives, or live performances. The emphasis remains firmly on exploration, dialogue, and the creative process.
🌍 Cross-Cultural Exchange
The residency spanned two educational contexts: Kello School (Oulu) and partner institutions in Aveiro, Portugal. In Aveiro, local artist Joana Cancela guided students through stop-motion animation while the OSC team contributed original soundscapes and musical layers developed during TECH//ART sessions.
On March 21, 2025, Portuguese educators and Joana visited Kello School to observe the workshops, test VR/audio setups, and facilitate small-group exercises where students mapped emotions to synthesized sounds. The exchange culminated in a shared outdoor experience on the frozen Bothnian Bay, reinforcing how place, temperature, and collective presence shape collaborative art-making.
👥 Creator Profiles
Technology artist & educator | Holds a Master's degree and background in engineering. Since 2022, he has designed workshops, installations, and educational performances that fuse 3D fabrication with generative music through custom software scripts.
Music technologist & sound designer | Active in electronic music production since 1993 as a DJ, performer, and educator. Currently explores VR/AR environments and neuro-responsive audio systems for live and installation contexts.
📐 Learning Framework & Outcomes
The program was built around four core objectives:
The response exceeded expectations: students consistently requested extended sessions, engaged deeply with open-ended prompts, and produced work exploring themes ranging from local history and wellbeing to equality, scientific phenomena, and live data visualization (e.g., weather patterns or sports metrics influencing sound/3D print outputs). Final forms were chosen collectively by participants and range from wearable tech-art pieces to short audiovisual compositions.
🔗 Student Archive & Resources
A curated collection of student-made videos, sound pieces, and documentation is available here:
🤝 Collaboration & Inquiries
TECH//ART is designed as an open framework for schools, cultural institutions, and educational partners. We welcome collaborative proposals that align with STEAM pedagogy, cross-cultural exchange, or youth-centered technology art.
Contact: bk@bastikuhz.com · Languages: Finnish, English, German
🏛️ Acknowledgments
Funded by the City of Oulu | From STEM to STEAM Initiative
📰 Read about the initiative
📸 Photos
