Virtual reality experiences
Immersive environments that place participants inside the work rather than in front of it.
Purpose
Why the symposium exists
The Digital International Creative Arts Therapies Symposium, known as DICATS, is a unique 24 hour, multi site, web based, peer reviewed symposium. DICATS brings together practitioners in the fields of arts and arts therapies around the world to learn about the use of digital devices, new media and immersive tools for therapeutic and educational interventions.
The symposium expands existing arts therapies education and therapy practice, showcases innovative work, and promotes interdisciplinary collaborations and conversations across the globe. Contributors include digital innovators, researchers and practitioners working across the arts and arts therapies, eHealth, game design for health, and digital technology for social justice.
Goals
Share and generate
The purpose of the symposium is expressed through a small set of commitments that guide every hive and presenter.
- Share digital and new media innovations and practices that have the potential to impact creative arts therapists and interrelated professions.
- Showcase and test digital media community building possibilities through pre recorded, live in person and virtual reality interactive activities.
- Generate dialogue between arts therapists and those in adjacent research, educational and creative communities.
- Generate content from which to develop an evidence base for therapeutic digital media inclusion and further funding.
- Generate networks and ideas to develop collaborations for research and reflective practice.
Structure
A day built across time zones
The symposium comprises live streaming to participants across 24 hours and connects five or more host sites across the globe: Singapore; London, United Kingdom; Philadelphia and Los Angeles in the United States; and Vancouver, Canada.
Each site offers experiential activities for local audiences that are shared with, and responded to by, participants later in the day. The content combines live and pre recorded presentations with interaction between sites by social media and instant messaging.
A recording of this unique 24 hour event is available for a time limited period so that all participants can access the complete symposium.
The hive sites are hosted by LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore, the University of Roehampton in London, Drexel University in Philadelphia, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and BC Cancer in Vancouver.
Showcase, learn and immerse
Across the day, the program moves between presentation, conversation and hands on activity, so delegates can see new tools in use as well as hear about them. Start with the 2019 program, or read how to attend online or in person.
In the room
Anticipated local activities
Pilot testing
Pilot and feasibility testing of new digital products with delegates and presenters.
Performances
Live and recorded performance that responds to the themes of the day.
Shared art making
Hands on making that links the physical studio with the shared digital space.
Q&A sessions
Direct conversation with presenters across the hive sites.
Meet the team
The symposium is steered by an international group of educators, therapists and researchers.