Living Labs, as user-centered, open innovation ecosystems, increasingly integrate the arts into their methodologies. Arts in innovation and research have gained momentum through interdisciplinary collaborations, especially with the rise of co-creation and participatory design. Artists bring critical reflection, imagination, and unconventional thinking to problem-solving, fostering engagement and supporting creative, context-sensitive solutions.
Integrating arts in Living Labs enhances creativity, fosters engagement, and stimulates innovation. Artistic practices encourage participants to move beyond conventional approaches by incorporating intuitive, emotional, and experiential perspectives. This helps address complex societal challenges, uncover latent needs, and envision future scenarios. Arts also create inclusive spaces where diverse voices contribute, enriching co-creation and ensuring socially and culturally relevant solutions.
Beyond problem-solving, arts play a key role in storytelling. They create powerful sensory and emotional narratives that inspire change, challenge stereotypes, and redefine participation in decision-making, contributing to more just and sustainable futures.
This aligns closely with the New European Bauhaus (NEB), an EU initiative connecting the European Green Deal with everyday life through aesthetics, sustainability, and inclusivity. NEB promotes creating beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive spaces by merging art, culture, technology, and science. Living Labs provide ideal environments to bring NEB principles to life by involving artists alongside researchers, businesses, and citizens. This collaboration makes green transitions not only technologically and economically viable but also culturally enriching and socially inclusive. The arts act as catalysts for reimagining sustainable living, fostering ownership, and demonstrating tangible pathways to alternative futures.
This session, co-organised by ENoLL, the oPEN Lab project, and the Culture & Creativity Working Group, will explore how arts are currently being used in Living Labs and how they can further support and empower (energy) transition processes.
Target Audience
This event is designed for:
- City representatives
- (Social science) researchers
- Living Lab practitioners
- Company representatives
- Citizens interested in integrating arts into Living Labs
- Artists looking to collaborate with Living Labs
ENoLL members, working group members, and partners of (energy) projects are all invited to join this session.
Event Objectives
- Strengthen the understanding of how arts can act as drivers of co-creation in Living Labs
- Share best practices and case studies on integrating arts into Living Labs
- Facilitate dialogue to identify drivers and barriers to the adoption of arts in Living Labs
- Inspire more Living Labs to integrate artistic approaches
- Encourage more participation in the Culture & Creativity Working Group
Agenda
| Timing | Description | Presenter |
| 10.30 – 10.35 am | Welcome & Why | Koen Vervoort (ENoLL Jokin Garatea (GAIA) |
| 10.35 – 10.55 am | How to use arts in different phases of a Living Lab? | Martha King (Bristol LL – KWMC) |
| 10.55 – 11.05 am | Best practice: “Now or Never” from the Genk oPEN LL (oPEN Lab project) | Selina Schepers – City of Genk |
| 11.05 – 11.15 am | Best practice: Rochapea mural from the Pamplona oPEN LL (oPEN Lab project) | Alba Juncal Arias – UPV |
| 11.15- 11.25 am | Best practice: Alleway Living Lab (Daegu Technopark) | Hee Dae Kim (Daegu Technopark) |
| 1125 – 11.35 am | Best practice: Slow and smoke (Bristol Living Lab) | Martha King/Annali Grimes (Bristol Living Lab) |
| 11.35 – 11.40 am | Time to grab a quick coffee | N/A |
| 11.40 – 12.20 am | Interactive discussion on the use of arts in Living Labs | Koen Vervoort and Martha King |
| 11.40 – 11.45 am | The ENoLL working group C&C and the artist roster | Jokin Garatea & Martha King |
| 12.25 – 12.30 am | The ENoLL working group on C&C The artist roster Conclusions and next steps | Jokin Garatea Martha King Koen Vervoort |
Join us for an inspiring session where art meets innovation to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future!
Sign up here.
