Nowadays, artists are increasingly integrating emerging technologies into live performances. Smart rings that control music in real time, AI-powered performers sharing the stage with musicians, and augmented reality experiences are no longer futuristic concepts, they are becoming part of contemporary artistic practice. Yet access to these innovations remains uneven. Many of the most advanced creative tools are locked behind expensive proprietary software, creating barriers for independent artists and limiting the diversity of voices shaping the future of music.

 

Open Culture Tech was established to challenge this reality. Through artist residencies, open-source toolkits, and capacity-building workshops, the initiative empowers artists to explore accessible technologies while fostering a more inclusive and collaborative creative ecosystem. Rather than treating technology as something reserved for specialists, OCT invites artists to make it their own.

 

 

To understand the impact of this approach, we interviewed eight artists who participated in Open Culture Tech residencies: Rafaele Andrade, Jan van Casteren a.k.a. Jan Modaal, Jeroen Ermens, Mark IJzerman, Bas Mastboom a.k.a. BASJE, Mathilde Nobel, and artist duo Den Ree and Niki Scheijen. Together, they represent a remarkably diverse group: from electronic music performers, to a classically schooled cello musician, from a punk poet to an interdisciplinary artist weaving ecology throughout his works and installations. What unites these eight, is their curiosity and willingness to explore tools that are new to them and to make them an integral part of the story they want to tell. 

 

Our new publication Opening the Code, Expanding the Stage holds their stories, reflections, and practical lessons. One important outcome is that technology is no longer simply an enhancement to live performance, it has become part of artistic practice itself. Whether using open-source software or commercial platforms, these artists see technology as a creative partner that shapes composition, performance, and audience interaction. Genre or discipline proved to matter far less than an artist's willingness to experiment.

 

 

Another finding is how participants viewed open source itself. For them, it is much more than a cost-effective alternative to proprietary software. Open source reflects a broader philosophy about creativity, ownership, and community. It represents transparency, knowledge sharing, and collective development. Choosing open source is, for many, an artistic and political statement about how creative communities should collaborate and grow together.

 

The interviews also reveal changing expectations from audiences. Live performances are increasingly expected to be immersive and participatory rather than passive experiences. Audiences are not only eager to engage with technology; they are also becoming more critical of how it is used.

 

Whether you're an artist, technologist, researcher or cultural professional, we hope these stories inspire you to explore what open source can offer your own practice. Read the publication and discover how opening the code can help expand the stage for everyone.

 

Read the publication here: https://publications.beeldengeluid.nl/pub/2575/