Future Places 2008: FAQ

This FAQ applies to the Future Places Festival of 2008. Please check back for the 2009 FAQ.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here is some basic information about the festival. If you have
questions, please look over this page thoroughly. Then, if you don’t
see the information you’re looking for here, please send us an email
and we’ll get your question addressed!

How much does it cost to attend the Festival?

Where will the installations be exhibited?

What are the venues like?

Will a sound and/or lighting technician be available for installation
set up and for the performances? Will a general technical support
person be available, to help me set up my installation?

Are there any basic materials or equipment, such as headphones or DVD
players, I can expect to be available?

Will I be able to attach visual materials like posters and photographs to walls?

My installation requires low or no ambient light. Will it be possible
to create these conditions at the installation site?

When is the deadline for setting up installations?

How much time will participants have to set up their installations?

Do participants need to be in attendance, after the set-up of installations?

When can I take my installation down?

Is a full schedule of the festival available?

When does the exhibition open?

Does the festival carry insurance for the installations?

I am using my laptop/camera/other hardware. Will the installations be secure?

If the participants have sponsors funding travel or equipment, what
are the existing rules for identifying the sponsor?

Are there cash prizes for the best entries?

Do I need to submit any other information?

I need a place to stay. Can I find any special rates?

I am submitting a video to the festival. Does it matter what format it is in?

I am submitting a video to the festival. Where should I send my DVD?

Should I submit a video DVD or a Data DVD?

If I need to depart Porto before the official end of the exhibition, can my work be shipped home?

I have more questions. Who can I ask?


How much does it cost to attend the Festival?
Attendance of all Festival events is free. That’s right, free! However, in order to attend the workshops you must register. There is a limited number of places available, so contact us now. For all other events, just show up – details of what happens where will be available on this site shortly.


Where will the installations be exhibited?
The festival currently has two exhibition sites, the Reitoria building
in the center of Porto and Maus Hábitos, a large, multi-roomed
coffeehouse and art center. Festival coordinators will decide the best
location for each installation, depending on its space and
infrastructure needs.


What are the venues like?
Photos of past events at Maus Hábitos are available at
http://www.exporuimtemorgen.nl/archief/transhabitos/site/09-05.htm
and
http://www.exporuimtemorgen.nl/archief/transhabitos/site/10-05.htm

A map of the Reitoria building is available at
http://sigarra.up.pt/reitoria/salas_geral.FormView?p_edificio=GT&p_sala=144
– The festival exhibits will be in room 144.
More maps and photos will be available on this site soon.


Will a sound and/or lighting technician be available for installation
set up and for the performances? Will a general technical support
person be available, to help me set up my installation?

Yes. Please inform us of your set-up plans ahead of time, however, so
we can better coordinate this support.


Are there any basic materials or equipment, such as headphones or DVD players, I can expect to be available?

The festival coordinators are working with participants on a
case-by-case basis, so please be sure all of your technical and
infrastructural requirements have been submitted.


Will I be able to attach visual materials like posters and photographs to walls?
This is likely to be acceptable at the Maus Hábitos site, but will not
be allowed in the Reitoria building.


My installation requires low or no ambient light. Will it be possible to create these conditions at the installation site?

This will be possible to arrange at the Maus Hábitos site, although
there will be limited space for this.


When is the deadline for setting up installations?

Pieces need to be set up by the evening of Thursday, October 9, at the
absolute latest.


How much time will participants have to set up their installations?
Set up at Maus Hábitos can start on October 3; set up at the Reitoria building can begin the following Monday, October 6.

Please tell us when you plan to arrive in Porto and begin set-up—this
will make the process much easier for us to coordinate!


Do participants need to be in attendance, after the set-up of installations?
Ideally, participants will be available to talk to the festival jury
all day on October 10, and on the morning of October 11.

It will also be important to attend the awards ceremony and official
public opening on the evening of October 11.


When can I take my installation down?
The festival closes on October 19, and installations will be taken
down on October 20. If you will no longer be in Porto at this point,
we may be able to arrange to ship your installation pieces back to
you. Please contact us if you believe you will be unable to be here as
the festival closes.


Is a full schedule of the festival available?

The schedule is now available on the festival website. Please note
that some times and events may be subject to changes, and be sure to
check back on the site for updates to the schedule.


When does the exhibition open?

The exhibition opens on Friday, October 10. The official opening and
awards ceremony will be at 7pm on October 11.


Does the festival carry insurance for the installations?

We are currently negotiating insurance arrangements with the exhibition sites.


I am using my laptop/camera/other hardware. Will the installations be secure?
Security cameras and invigilators will be on site. However, festival
participants must ultimately take responsibility for their own
belongings, and may wish to consider getting their own insurance.


If the participants have sponsors funding travel or equipment, what
are the existing rules for identifying the sponsor?

We will identify the sponsor on a label near the piece as well as online.


Are there cash prizes for the best entries?
The first prize for the best festival entry is 3000 euros; there are also two second prizes, each of 1000 euros.


Do I need to submit any other information?

Yes! Please send us these items:

A short biographical sketch we can put on our festival website, with
optional photo and contact information.

The dates you will be in Porto and your contact information there.

A final synopsis of your work by September 25, including:

  • Any alterations you have made to it since originally submitting
  • A brief summary of your project (2-4 sentences) which can be used for labels and promotional materials

I need a place to stay. Can I find any special rates?
Future Places has an agreement with the following hotels, at Porto, where you can find a special price if you are a participant:


I am submitting a video to the festival. Does it matter what format it is in?
Ideally, your video will be in the PAL region 2 format. If this is
not possible, though, we can convert it.


I am submitting a video to the festival. Where should I send my DVD?
Please send it to:
Universidade do Porto – Reitoria
A/c: Fátima São Simão
Praça Gomes Teixeira
4099-002 Porto
PORTUGAL


Should I submit a video DVD or a Data DVD?
If you can, submitting both is a good idea.


If I need to depart Porto before the official end of the exhibition, can my work be shipped home?
This is a possibility, if the project is relatively lightweight.


I have more questions. Who can I ask?
The US-based Future Places coordinator is Karen Gustafson, who can be
reached at kegustafson@gmail.com
The local manager of the festival is Fátima São Simão, and she can be
reached at fatimasss@gmail.com