Students’ Projects

Each year, students on the international Media Cultural Work (IMC) programme undertake a variety of media art and research projects that combine academic work with public engagement and creative experimentation.

One recurring project is StadtWerkstatt Medien, where students design and lead interactive media art workshops in public spaces, particularly in the town of Dieburg. These workshops invite local residents to take part in artistic processes. The results are later transformed into a collaborative digital or social media sculpture developed by the students.

This notable, sustainable and ongoing partnership is with the Museum Schloss Fechenbach in Dieburg, where students curate and produce media art exhibitions. These exhibitions provide practical experience in curation, cultural management and public communication. They frequently culminate in public events and recognition of students’ achievements, including awards and public feedback. The results of these projects can be viewed on the website medienkultur.eu, which is redesigned by the students every semester.

A permanent installation entitled ‘Hörweg – Mit dem Ohr unterwegs im Dieburger Forst’ (‘Listening Path – Led by the Ear through the Forest’) involves the creation of an augmented reality sound trail in the woods near the Dieburg Campus. This project integrates methods from acoustic ecology and audience development, with students actively involved in concept development, content creation and strategies to ensure the project’s long-term sustainability.

Students also take part in academic conferences, exhibitions and festivals that explore current themes in media aesthetics, digital culture and media education. These events often feature student-led presentations, poster sessions and performances that contribute to scholarly discussions and artistic dialogues. The international Fulldome Festival in Jena and the next_generation Festival at ZKM Karlsruhe are just two examples worth mentioning.

Collaborations with institutions such as planetariums, museums and media art festivals provide further platforms for showcasing student work. These include immersive fulldome film screenings, 3D audio compositions and AR/VR-related media projects, often presented as part of larger cultural or academic programmes.

Through these diverse projects, IMC students continually explore the intersections of media art, public engagement and academic inquiry, making meaningful contributions to both local and international media cultures.

Two outstanding Master’s projects by IMC students receive the HAB scholarship each semester. The funding supports the students in bringing their ideas and projects to fruition, whilst also offering them the opportunity to network with students from other universities in Hesse.