MECAD´s dissemination project contemplates three kinds of activities. On the one hand, the organization of a variety of events: exhibitions, lectures, concerts, performances, symposia, and so on, both at the MECAD itself and at other centers with which collaboration agreements have been established. On the other hand, the fostering of debates and production centered on digital creation, and the setting up of interdisciplinary links between a wide range of fields: philosophy, sociology, aesthetics, literature, music, sciences, computer science, etc. The third activity is dedicated to specialized training through masters, postgraduate curses and specific seminars.

Since its creation, MECAD has organized exhibitions, such as: "2nd International Show of Art in CD-ROM"; "Net Condition", international net art exhibition organized together with the ZKM – Center for Art and Media, from Germany, the Steirischer Herbst festival in Austria and the NTT – International Center, from Japan; "Media Art Actual"; "Electronic Art in Spain"; etc. It organized as well, in November 1998, the International Symposium "Cross_Over: artes.tecnologías.redes", in Barcelona, and workshops, lectures, seminars and so on. (link con activities)

Editions and publications

MECAD intends to issue a line of publications devoted to subjects related to art, culture and the new technologies, which will appear on a variety of different supports: books, CD-ROM, Internet, etc. The book entitled "Marcel.lí Antúnez. Objetos, dibujos y performances" was, in September 1998, the first publication of MECAD. In 2000 MECAD has edited the CD-ROM "ArteVisión – A history of electronic art in Spain".

MECAD Electronic Journal, the on line journal of MECAD was created in 1999. It is dedicated to support the promotion of media art and providing a critical forum and network related to art, science and technology. Each issue of MECAD e-journal is devoted to a specific subject, and it has the following sections: Theoretical Essays, Interviews, Monographics, Reviews, Discussion Forum and Newslist, all of them translated into Spanish. It is possible to consult the past editions of the journal, in the documentation webpage. (link a e-journal editions)

The Media Lab: Grants and productions

MECAD has its own space for research and production. The aim of the Media Lab is to develop specific projects on the basis of our own concepts or of those presented by other artists and creators, supported by MECAD through the grants program.

MECAD’s Productions

MECAD has carried out a line of programming related to the field of electronic art and has started a program of own productions and of support to the productions of other artists within this field.

One of the most ambitious projects that we have developed from MECAD’s Medialab is the production and realization of an interactive CD-ROM entitled "ArteVisión - A history of electronic art in Spain". It is the first exhaustive research of the history, the creators, and the main works carried out by national artists in the field of Media Art, from the sixties to the nineties.

Grants

MECAD will award, grants for production and support for research and creation. Grant holders or artists in residence will have at their disposal the equipment of the Media Lab.

Training

MECAD/ESDi organised the International Master on Creation and Design for Interactive Systems, that will begin its third edition; the Master and Postgraduate curs on Curatorial and Cultural Practices in Art and New Media, one of the first especilisations in the world about curating, theory and criticism on new media, that counts with an international prestigious teaching staff; and the Master and Postgraduate curs on Audiovisual Communication for Interactive Media, dedicated to telematic and digital media, divided in in-class and online module.

MECAD organizes seminars, workshops and courses with teachers and specialists for the theoretical and practical training of artists and designers in subjects both interdisciplinary and directly related to digital creation. We have organized seminars and workshops on different topics such as video, CD-ROM, Internet, audiovisual language, electroacustic music, digital photography, digital treatment of images and audiovisual montage.

Exchanges and Collaborations

At present, MECAD/ESDi has collaboration agreements with the ZKM – Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe (Germany); the KHM – Media Art Academy of Cologne (Germany), and the Netherlands Media Art Institut/Montevideo Time Based Arts, Amsterdam (Holland). Through those agreements, our master students or resident artists have the possibility to obtain a residence in the ZKM and the KHM. At the same time, MECAD/ESDi establish interchanges between lecturers and also for collaborations in the development of projects (for more information see Activities: MECAD Collaborations).

Documentation

All users of our web will have access to a source of documentation and information on the different areas of Media Art. It includes texts, essays or theoretical research from different authors, and a directory with the main spaces, festivals, centers, etc., in Spain, related to Media Art.