RAIVE AI Summer School
RAIVE 2026 took place August 31 - September 6
Royal Conservatoire Antwerp
RAIVE is a laboratory for young artists from diverse disciplines such as dance, music, technology, and visual arts where artists come together to redefine the boundaries of their craft through the lens of interdisciplinary collaboration. Participants learn to craft their own AI systems from basic principles, creating and curating their own datasets through a very "hands-on" artistic approach.
The programme is structured to encourage autonomy while providing access to expert guidance. Participants work in groups throughout the week. During this process they learn from each other and benefit from the insights of three coaches, skilled in different areas within the arts. These coaches are there to mentor as well as share their personal artistic journeys through lectures and performances, enriching the learning atmosphere.
Introductory workshops show participants how to work with AI, interactive audio and performance practices. These sessions aim to provide them with tools to explore new ways of working together.
The culmination of this week-long journey is a public presentation held in De Gele Zaal of the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp. This sharing isn't about showing polished pieces but rather the raw, intriguing results of a week's exploration of art and technology. It's an invitation to the public to witness the process and the progress of works that sit at the intersection of multiple disciplines, brought to life by the next generation of artists.
Coaches
Giusy Caruso
Giusy Caruso is a pianist and artist-researcher who blends classical and contemporary music with advanced technologies like motion capture, virtual reality, and AI. As chair of the CREATIE group at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp, she explores the intersection of art, science, and technology through immersive "phygital" performances that merge physical and digital realms. Her concerts, which often feature duets with her avatar in the Metaverse, challenge traditional formats and push musical expression into new territories. Caruso's innovative work has earned recognition such as the prestigious STARTS Prize from the European Commission.
Umut Eldem
Umut Eldem is a composer, researcher, and creative programmer. He works as the coordinator of the research group CREATIE at Royal Conservatoire Antwerp, where he gives courses on music theory and audiovisual composition. As a Max Certified Trainer, he teaches and regularly organises workshops on creative coding for musicians. His compositions and research focus on the exploration of synaesthesia as an artistic medium. He has given lectures on his research of synaesthesia, and had his audiovisual works and installations combining sound and colours presented in many countries around the world.
Frederik De Bleser
Frederik De Bleser is a researcher and lecturer at Sint Lucas Antwerp. His research focuses on the connection between art and technology and the development of free software tools for artificial intelligence and data visualization. He is co-founder of the Algorithmic Gaze Research Group. He coordinates the master in digital media at Sint Lucas, and works as a freelance data visualisation artist, creating projects for Belgian news and online democracy platforms.
Location
The Royal Conservatoire Antwerp is located near the vibrant Zuid district and serves as a hub for musical and performative talent. The Conservatory shares a campus with deSingel, an acclaimed arts centre known for its eclectic mix of music, dance, and theatre performances. Together, they form a cultural beacon within the city. The neighbourhood around the Conservatory is lively and artistic, dotted with galleries, cafés, and boutiques, reflecting the creative spirit of the institution.
Royal Conservatoire AntwerpDesguinlei 25
2018 Antwerp
Belgium
RAIVE 2026
The third edition of RAIVE took place from August 31 to September 6, 2026 at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp. Participants and coaches first met online on Tuesday May 19. The week itself followed this programme:
Thank you to all participants, coaches and visitors of the final presentation.