Art of Darkness

The Art of Darkness as Cultural Heritage of Urban Landscape (Art of Darkness) project aims to preserve and develop cultural heritage sites throughout Europe with a better understanding of the cultural, aesthetic, and sustainability values of darkness, which are important to the well-being of humans and nature. This is achieved through creating a Europe-wide collaborative network of 3 cities, 5 research institutions and 2 societies, which conduct 5 artistic pilot trials in cultural heritage sites in 5 countries.
The pilot trials develop design strategies and solutions for more sustainable, aesthetic and socially feasible dark-time experiences through co-design with local stakeholders. The methodology of the project is transdisciplinary, participatory and integrative: The disciplines included in the project consortium are architecture, light-art, cultural heritage, urban design and planning, lighting design, photometrics, engineering, media- and neurotechnology, environmental psychology, cultural anthropology, scenography, and performing arts. Importantly, the evaluated results are integrated into the Art of Darkness Piloting Model to be replicated in other cities and regions and translated into roadmaps and policy briefs for further impact. All values and working principles of the NEB Compass are implemented in the project work with the highest ambition level.

Funding programme

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101177779.

Project timeframe

01/01/2025 - 31/12/2028

UNIBO role

Partner