Artists, writers, journalists, art critics, curators and philosophers are being urged to join space scientists, engineers and technologists at a conference in The Netherlands in May. Space: science, technology and the arts, the 7th workshop on space and the arts will be held at ESTEC - ESA's European Space Research & Technology Centre in Noordwijk from 18-21 May 2004. The workshop aims to provide a platform where new ideas and experiments relating to the interaction of space science, technology and the arts can be exposed and debated. It will also create an environment where artists and other culture professionals can meet with space scientists and engineers to exchange ideas and projects about space from the perspective of their different backgrounds, education and experiences. Organisers are seeking up to 40 papers for presentation on any aspect of Space: science, technology and the arts. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

the impact of space technologies on the arts and vice-a-versa

the transfer of space technologies to art and design

the role and involvement of space bodies in the arts

designing art for the space environment - the requirements, the limitations

synergies between the arts and space communities

the interaction between space, arts and the public

space and the new media arts

using the arts to explore space

the arts in orbit - use of the ISS for artistic and cultural expression. If accepted, participation in the conference is free, but delegates will need to provide their own transport and accommodation. Abstracts in English should be submitted by 29 February 2004 using the online form. Notification of acceptance will be 15 March 2004. For more information, CLICK HERE