will there be creative works in DAC?::

when are abstracts due?::

what is the exhibition at dac?::

DAC has always been a conference that has attempted to bring artists and theorists together, and so has always encouraged and supported the exhibition and discussion of creative digital art. +playengines+ is a juried show that is an integral part of melbourneDAC and will be a showcase of new digital work that explores themes that are complementary to the general conference. In 2003 most of the art work is expected to be screen based and delivered, in some manner, rather than installation or performance based.

when does the call for works close?::

what is a full panel proposal?::

What is a "full panel proposal"? Whatever you want it to be :-) Panels are intended to be treated as a more flexible space than papers in which to work. So if you want a panel of 3, fine, 6 would also be fine - though you wouldn't get any more time.

A panel proposal would consist of an abstract of up to 500 words outlining what the panel is, the problems it will address, expected participants and general approach. If the proposal is accepted we would then expect that to be worked up into something more substantial, for instance 500-1000 words from each participant around the panel theme/problem.

how do i submit the call for works entry?::

the call for works has no electronic submission. it is ink on paper via snail mail. the postal address is included on the official patented designer entry form (available in two fashionable flavours - rtf and pdf). why? because some of you will be wanting/needing to submit real objects and we did not want the nightmare of electronic entries relating to some physical objects, some entries on paper with physical objects and some electronic, etc. so it is dead tree for the lot.

will there be performance opportunities at DAC?::

yes. As with previous conferences MelbourneDAC will provide the opportunity for artists to perform their work. The number of events where this will be a key feature is still being developed, however it is anticipated that there will be performances of hypertext, collaborative networked performance, improvisational and/or electronic music (networked or not), and whatever else may be submitted.

is hypertext or hypermedia part of the competition?::

at the moment the hypermedia category is part of the melbourneDAC exhibition but is not part of the +playengines prize competition+. this means hypermedia work will be exhibited, along with all the other accepted works. Hypermedia work will not be elibigle for the competition.

how academic do papers need to be?::

Papers are expected to be academically orientated (and generally if you don't want to work like this then the panels provide a more flexible format). So completed papers should contain references to relevant work but what the program committee assumes are that papers will be familiar with their field, and will make an original contribution. In other words we don't want papers from people who have just discovered hypertext and want to tell us that multilinear narrative is the future. :-) It is less about extensive references and lots of quotes than with the quality of ideas and the engagement with real problems in the relevant field/s.

what is a forum?::

A forum will be invented by the the program committee by invitation, and might not happen. For instance if there are 4 people at DAC who are leaders in field x we might bring them together in some sort of forum. Or we might bring together a hypertext writer with a performance artist with an interactive film maker and invite them to an open discussion (forum) about creativity and technology. I doubt the program will have space for this, but it is about trying to figure out ways to make the conference very much about ideas and not reading papers. (But we want full papers so there is a publication and also to make sure that those who get to stand up and speak have something worth saying.)