The CONTRAST project has established itself as an innovative platform for contemporary photography, connecting art, architecture and design. Recently, a version of the CONTRAST Multimedia Exhibition (EMC) operator was created with differentiated video content from the Contrast Collective Exhibition menu, with a view to extending the project’s reach by allowing multimedia publication of diverse content. The aim is to continue the development and potential of this operator, which has decisive potential for disseminating the project as a whole and promoting the work of young students, researchers and emerging artists.

The version of the CONTRAST Multimedia Exhibitions (EMC) operator has emerged as a central initiative in the project’s dissemination programme, integrating the multidisciplinary network of artistic activities and expanding its presence in different contexts. The EMC has the potential to act as a dynamic support for national and international seminars and exhibitions, promoting digital accessibility and communication through online video projection. This format creates an inclusive virtual space, allowing exhibitions to be viewed in real time, creating synergies with the multimedia potential of the Research Catalogue (RC) platform.

Impact and Dissemination

The EMC operator version can play a strategic role in expanding CONTRAST’s visibility, fostering collaborations with institutions such as the Department of Architecture at the Lusófona University of Porto and the University of South Wales, among many others, creating synergies with the Research Catalogue (RC) platform. The implementation of the EMC operator version was accompanied by a pilot project with students from the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (FAUP), who explored the potential of the RC platform to enrich creative and research processes.

Synergies and Strategies

The EMC version of the operation has the potential to complement activities such as round tables, conferences and workshops, allowing the video exhibition of the various contents at the venues of the activities, creating a virtuous cycle in which each component reinforces the project as a whole. The use of digital media, such as online video and audio, maximises the impact of physical exhibitions and offers new insights into artistic production.

Recognition and Internationalisation

Over the last four years, CONTRAST has achieved national and international recognition, taking part in events such as the International Conference Images of the Imagined Real (ESMAD/IPP) and the scopio Magazine Architecture, Art and Image conferences (FAUP). Initiatives such as the exhibition at the Portuguese Photography Centre and the launch of the publication at Casa Comum – Rectory of the University of Porto show the project’s impact.

With strategic partnerships, such as the collaboration between SCOPIO and CONTRAST, the project strengthens its role as a catalyst for ideas in the world of photography, promoting an interdisciplinary dialogue between academia and society.

Support for Open Classes, Seminars, and Exhibitions

The version of the EMC operative makes it possible to connect different strands of the CONTRAST project, acting as a point of convergence for artistic, pedagogical and investigative content. It also contributes to the formation of a living archive on the CONTRAST platform, documenting artistic and photographic practices in a continuous and innovative way.

The integration with RC makes it possible to create an experimental space for the dissemination of content, promoting a dynamic and sustainable approach to artistic research and practice.

The version of the EMC operation and its future development will allow it to go beyond the exhibition of works, functioning as a transversal support for various pedagogical and artistic initiatives, such as:

Open Classes: EMC is used to present and discuss photographic projects, fostering debates between academia and the broader public. Online video projection enhances the visual and multimodal dimensions of artistic research.

Seminars and Roundtables: It facilitates the sharing of multimedia content that enriches discussions and illustrates research practices, ensuring accessibility for diverse audiences.

Exhibitions in Various Locations: Partner institutions use the EMC to broaden the visibility of works, combining the in-person experience with the global reach of the digital environment.

Strategic Integration and Multidimensional Potential

The EMC connects various aspects of the CONTRAST project, acting as a convergence point for artistic, pedagogical, and research content. Furthermore, it contributes to the formation of a living archive on the CONTRAST platform, documenting artistic and photographic practices continuously and innovatively.

The integration with the RC enables the creation of an experimental space for content dissemination, promoting a dynamic and sustainable approach to artistic research and practice.