Introductory Statement

The 20th International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA2014) is staged for the first time in the Middle East. Dubai was selected to host ISEA2014. The event is organised by the Zayed University, in collaboration with the Dubai Convention Bureau and in engagement with a range of cultural and creative partners in the Middle East.

For ISEA2014, the ISEA International Board received two very strong proposals from Zayed University, Dubai, UAE and Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Following public presentations by both bids at ISEA2011 in Istanbul and a final bid process, the ISEA Board agreed that the Dubai bid, with its focus on the burgeoning field of art and technology in the Arab World would provide a unique opportunity for ISEA to connect audiences and artists from the Middle East with the international electronic art community. Vancouver will be the location of ISEA2015.
ISEA International (formerly Inter-Society for the Electronic Arts) was founded in the Netherlands in 1990, to co-ordinate the continued occurrence of the ISEA symposia that started in 1988, also in The Netherlands. Since then the symposium has been held in 4 continents and over 20 cities. Among others: Sydney (Australia), Montreal (Canada), Chicago (USA), Liverpool/ Manchester (UK), Singapore, Nagoya (Japan), Paris (France) and Istanbul (Turkey).

ISEA International is an international non-profit organisation fostering interdisciplinary academic discourse and exchange among culturally diverse organisations and individuals working with art, science and technology.

ISEA International Board: Peter Anders, US,Chair, Bonnie Mitchell, US, Secretary & Wim van der Plas, NL, Treasurer

• Wim van der Plas is a sociologist and co-founder of ISEA the symposium, ISEA the Inter-Society, and ISEA International. He co-organised the first, second and seventh ISEA symposium.  wvdplas.home.xs4all.nl