We were very happy with the large amount of people attending the latest Video Vortex conference in Brussels. However, for those of you who could not make it, there is a full video report of all presented lectures to be found here.

Cimatics festival was hosting the 5th Video Vortex conference. Two years after its first edition, Video Vortex returned to Brussels, this time hosted in one of the great icons of mid 20th century modern architecture: the Atomium.

The past two years, the conference series – which focuses on the status and potential of the moving image on the Internet – has visited Amsterdam, Ankara and Split, growing out into an organized network of organizations and individuals. Time for an interim report, perhaps. We asked some participants of the first Video Vortex editions and publication, as well as new ones, to reflect on recent developments in online video culture.

Over the past years the place of the moving image on the Internet has become increasingly prominent. With a wide range of technologies and web applications within anyone’s reach, the potential of video as a personal means of expression has reached a totally new dimension. How is this potential being used? How do artists and other political and social actors react to the popularity of YouTube and other ‘user-generated-content’ websites? What does YouTube tell us about the state of contemporary visual culture? And how can the participation culture of video-sharing and vlogging reach some degree of autonomy and diversity, escaping the laws of the mass media and the strong grip of media conglomerates?

Credits:
Video Vortex V is organized in cooperation with the Institute of Network Cultures in Amsterdam and supported by KASK (Faculty of Fine Arts, University College Ghent) and the Center Leo Apostel (CLEA).

Some of you heard it already in Split: the 5th edition of the Video Vortex conference series will be held in Brussels. Video Vortex V is announced for November 20-21 2009, and will be hosted by the Cimatics festival.

Previously Video Vortex conferences were held in Brussels, Amsterdam, Ankara and Split. With this second Brussels meeting the goal is also to set up Video Vortex as an organised network, making it more sustainable.

Let this be a first general open call for participation. But keep an eye on the list for a more detailed call soon, with deadlines and specific themes. Submissions can be sent to the email adress below or uploaded through the online submission form at cimatics.com/entries (category: ‘Video Vortex’)

For any further questions, recommendations or remarks you can contact me at bram.crevits@cimatics.com or just reply to the vv list.