The development of computational tools and media has been radically transforming the landscape for the practice of design, the arts and numerous cultural manifestations. Recognizing this, xCoAx is designed as a multi-disciplinary and nomadic enquiry on arts, computers, computation, communication and the elusive x factor that connects them all.
xCoAx is a forum for the exchange of ideas and the discovery of new and profitable synergies. It is an event exploring the frontiers of digital arts with the participation of a diverse confluence of computer scientists, media practitioners and theoreticians, that will focus on the relations between what can and cannot be computed, what can and cannot be communicated, what is beautiful and how humans and computational systems intersect in the development of new directions in aesthetics.
Registration is handled by the University of Bergamo, please follow this link to register.
After submitting the registration form you will be informed of the total amount to pay and the procedures for payment through bank transfer or credit card.
The preliminary program is available at 2013.xcoax.org.
Bergamo is in the center of the Lombardy region, only 50km northeast of Milano.
The town, home to some 120,000 inhabitants, has two centers: the “Città Alta” (upper city), a hilltop medieval town, surrounded by defensive walls, and the “Città Bassa” (lower city), the newer part which developed at the foot of the hill. The two parts are connected by a cable car, roads, and foot-paths.
xCoAx will take place in the S. Agostino campus of the University of Bergamo in the Città Alta.
Orio al Serio Airport (sometimes referred to as Milan-Bergamo, IATA code: BGY) serves Bergamo and its province and, with almost 8 million passengers in 2010, has become the 4th busiest airport in Italy. It focuses mostly on low-cost airlines, and, in particular, it has been one of Ryanair's major hubs since 2003.
If you fly to BGY, then you only need to take bus n.1 (it departs in front of the airport exit every 20 minutes, buy a one-way 3-zone ticket at 2€ at the tourist info point at the arrivals, or at the vending machine at the bus stop) to reach Città Alta. Get off at stop “viale Vittorio Emanuele 102”: the S.Agostino campus is a 2 minute walk away.
Given the short distance between Bergamo and Milano, a flight to one of Milano's airports is definitely an option.
Here is what you need to do if you fly to Milano, Linate (IATA code: LIN), in the eastern suburbs of Milano: take a taxi to the main train station “Stazione Centrale” (about 20€) or, alternatively, take bus 73 or X73 (direction: San Babila, ticket at the vending machine at the bus stop in front of the arrivals: 1.50€), get off at the end station, walk 1 minute to San Babila square and take Metro (Underground) line 1 (red, direction: Bisceglie/Molino Dorino, use the same ticket) for one stop to Duomo, and then switch to Metro line 3 (yellow, direction: Comasina) for 4 stops and get off at Centrale FS. There is a train every hour from Milano's main train station to Bergamo (ticket at the vending machines at the ticket counter area, 5.15€). The train will take you to Bergamo's main station. Buy a one-way 1-zone ticket (1.20€) at the newsstand at the entrance of the station. Take bus n.1 (direction: Città Alta) in front of the station. Get off at stop “viale Vittorio Emanuele 102”: the S.Agostino campus is a 2 minute walk away.
Milano has another airport: Milano, Malpensa (IATA code: MXP), which is located 40km northwest of Milano. If you fly to MXP, whether you land in Terminal 1 or Terminal 2, the best way to reach Bergamo is to take a shuttle bus (Orio Shuttle, a 2 hour ride with a stop at Orio al Serio Airport, 18€) to Città Bassa, walk 5 minutes to Bergamo station, and take bus n.1 (buy one-zone ticket, 1.20€, at the newsstand at the entrance of the station) to Città Alta. Get off at stop “viale Vittorio Emanuele 102”: the S.Agostino campus is a 2 minute walk away.
Alternatively, take the train Malpensa Express (only from Terminal 1, there is a free shuttle bus every 15 minutes from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1) to Milano (a 40 minute ride, 11€, ticket at the ticket counters close to the platforms) or one of the shuttle buses to Milano (serving both T1 and T2, 50 minute ride, 10€, ticket on board).
The shuttle buses will take you to Stazione Centrale, Milano's main station. There is a train every hour from Milano's main train station to Bergamo (ticket at the vending machines at the ticket counter area, 5.15€). The train will take you to Bergamo's main station. Buy a one-way 1-zone ticket (1.20€) at the newsstand at the entrance of the station. Take bus n.1 (direction: Città Alta) in front of the station. Get off at stop “viale Vittorio Emanuele 102”: the S.Agostino campus is a 2 minute walk away.
The Malpensa Express train will take you either to Stazione Centrale, or to Stazione Cadorna. From Cadorna, take Metro line 2 (green, direction: Gessate/Cologno Nord/Gobba, ticket at the vending machines or newsstands underground, 1.50€) for 5 stops to Stazione Centrale, and proceed to take the train as above.
Unfortunately, there is no campus accommodation at the university, but Bergamo has plenty of lodging possibilities to offer, especially B&Bs. Please refer to your preferred hotel portal to check the most convenient offers.
This project is partially funded by FEDER through the Operational Competitiveness Program — COMPETE — and by national funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology — FCT — in the scope of project PEst-C/EAT/UI4057/2011 (FCOMP-Ol-0124-FEDER-D22700);
