TMU to host international biennale of media and architecture in 2023

The Media Architecture Biennale 2023 (external link, opens in new window)  (MAB23), the world’s premiere event on the design and role of media in the built environment, will bring together over 400 students, academics, and professionals from architecture, art, design, urban planning, media and communication, urban informatics, and public policy to share new ideas and shape the evolving field of Media Architecture.

Dave Colangelo (opens in new window) , Assistant Professor of Digital Creation and Communication at The Creative School will act as the General Chair of MAB23 (external link, opens in new window) . The week-long event, split into a 2-day online and 3-day in-person program, will feature keynotes, academic papers and industry roundtable sessions, symposia, workshops, exhibitions, an awards ceremony, and a gala dinner. 

“MAB23 will help to facilitate the sharing of ideas, research, and best practices in Media Architecture across multi-industry, multidisciplinary groups of stakeholders,” said Colangelo.

MAB23 will centre its discussions around four key themes (external link) : Equity and Access, (Dis)Engagement, Civic/Creative/Commercial, and Intermedial Media Architecture.

“Through these themes, we hope to inspire students, artists, designers, and business and civic leaders in their uses of Media Architecture in smart city-building and placemaking/placekeeping initiatives,” he said.

MAB23 Calls

All MAB23 calls are officially open and will close on February 24, 2023. This year, the team is looking for  (google doc) academic papers (external link, opens in new window) ,  (google doc) interactive workshops (external link, opens in new window) ,  (google doc) innovative explorations and prototypes (external link, opens in new window) ,  (google doc) awards for outstanding examples of Media Architecture in the industry (external link, opens in new window) , and  (google doc) student awards (external link, opens in new window) . 

“There are many ways to participate, and this is a great opportunity for TMU faculty and students to showcase their work,” said Colangelo. 

Previous MABs have been held in Amsterdam/Utrecht (2020) (external link, opens in new window) , Beijing (2018) (external link, opens in new window) , Sydney (2016) (external link, opens in new window) , Aarhus (2014 (external link) , 2012 (external link) ), Vienna (2010) (external link, opens in new window) , Berlin (2008) (external link, opens in new window) , and London (2007). MAB23 Toronto will be the first time the event will be held on Turtle Island (North America).

This year’s event will take place on June 14-15 (Online) and June 21-23 (In-person, Toronto, Canada).

MAB23 is supported in part by funding and support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, TMU, The Creative School, Cadillac Fairview, Daktronics, StrongLED, Moment Factory, Yonge Dundas Square, Azure, and others (external link, opens in new window) .

For more information, please visit:

Website: mab23.org (external link, opens in new window) 

Social Media: Facebook (external link, opens in new window) , Instagram (external link, opens in new window) , LinkedIn (external link, opens in new window) , and Twitter (external link, opens in new window) .

The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University

The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.