Unlocking Joint Potential

Brain City Berlin

The Berlin University of the Arts (UdK Berlin) and the Folkwang University of the Arts (Folkwang) are sending a strong signal for the future of artistic education in the digital age with the project “Multisensory in Dialogue and Artistic Practice” (MIDAP). The collaborative project was launched in the winter semester 2025/2026.

With combined expertise, the two art universities aim to bring new impulses to artistic education through MIDAP. The project’s objective is to develop a hybrid, AI-supported and immersive teaching communication that connects scientific reflection, extended reality and artistic practice. UdK Berlin contributes extensive experience in the field of Generative Artificial Intelligence and media didactics through the “GenKI Lab” and the “Digital Learning Center.” Folkwang focuses on the use of Extended Reality (XR). The MIDAP project is funded by the Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre (StIL) through the Lehrarchitektur program until the end of 2029. MIDAP also aims to promote artistic exchange between Germany’s two largest art and music universities and to create new educational spaces as a shared platform. Opportunities, milestones and transfer potential of the collaborative project are explained by Prof. Dr. Markus Hilgert, President of UdK Berlin, in the Brain City interview.

Professor Hilgert, what opportunities does the collaborative project “Multisensory in Dialogue and Artistic Practice” offer UdK Berlin?

This initiative gives us the chance to unlock the potential of Generative AI and Extended Reality in close collaboration with Folkwang University of the Arts. With the project results, we jointly harness the creative power of the arts to shape and enrich these technologies. We also develop innovative applications and forward-looking strategies that open up new horizons.

What strengths do UdK Berlin and Folkwang University of the Arts bring to the joint project?

UdK Berlin contributes artistic research and teaching and learning experience to the project, particularly in the field of Generative AI. It also offers strong expertise in virtual communication in teaching and learning settings as well as in national and international discourses on online teaching in higher education. Furthermore, through the university-wide funded project “Innovations in Artistic Teaching,” UdK Berlin has gained experience experimenting with digitality across various artistic disciplines. Folkwang brings particular expertise in Virtual Reality and immersion to the project. UdK Berlin will provide a Gen-KI Lab for technical project activities, while Folkwang will provide an Immersion Lab. Both universities also have experience in implementing large third-party funded projects and maintain national and international networks.

How will teachers, students and school pupils benefit from the MIDAP collaborative project?

In the field of music, Folkwang will directly address school pupils through its Schüler*innen Lab. This draws on the experience of a successful lab offering one-day workshops for school classes. At UdK Berlin, a pilot project for music teacher education will test innovative media technology from a didactic perspective. The aim is to explore the possibilities of working with Generative AI and Extended Reality in music first with pupils at Folkwang and then introduce them in music teacher education at UdK Berlin. This way, both groups gain an artistic approach to these technologies. Based on the evaluation of pilot projects, recommendations can be developed for art universities and target groups.

The project started at the beginning of the winter semester and will be funded until the end of 2029. What is the next step? Are there milestones in the joint implementation?

The project will be established by mid-2026. From the winter semester 2026 onwards, tandem courses with teachers and students at both art universities are planned, accompanied by evaluations. From 2027, we aim to present the project and initial results at events and conferences. Milestones include expanding the labs, conducting joint courses and fostering interdisciplinary networking within and between both art universities. Scientific exchange with professional communities, participation in the universities’ open days and attendance at conferences are also part of this. In addition, MIDAP will participate in transfer events organized by the Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre and seek exchange with other funded actors.

Will the platform and its educational spaces also be accessible to interested parties outside the consortium?

For a planned project extension from 2031 to 2032, one possible approach would be to involve stakeholders outside the consortium and professional communities to advance knowledge transfer. We would then develop corresponding online events and didactic formats.

How does the MIDAP collaborative project support UdK Berlin’s strategic orientation and transfer potential?

Generative AI and Extended Reality are significant technological developments and societal challenges. For us as an art university, it is a crucial task to address, discuss and shape these technological challenges. At UdK Berlin’s Gen-KI Day, numerous research and teaching examples have already been showcased. UdK Berlin is establishing a Sounding Board for Generative AI (an informal advisory and feedback body) and has set up a GenKI Lab. Extended Reality is also highly relevant for various artistic disciplines. In detail, further development will involve diverse applications and challenges. MIDAP gives us the opportunity to strengthen our strategic positioning through reflection, experimentation and the use of digitality, as well as to test innovative teaching and learning concepts and specific media technology applications in new interdisciplinary contexts. Transfer potential will be developed at UdK Berlin through the Central Institute for Career and Transfer in close contact with Berlin’s cultural and creative industry and the scientific community.

Interview: Ernestine von der Osten-Sacken