Digital Strategy

HEK (House of Electronic Arts) is a centre for contemporary art that works with electronic media and reflects critically on their use. Digital technologies are not an add-on to our work. They are integral to how we program, collect, communicate, educate and organise ourselves. We do not treat digital technologies as neutral tools, but as culturally shaped systems that influence access, responsibility, sustainability and participation. HEK’s digital strategy brings these perspectives together and shapes how we work digitally as an institution.

A central focus of this strategy is the visibility and accessibility of our public programmes in media art and digital culture. This includes exhibitions, the collection, education and outreach activities, and participatory projects such as Friends of HEK. Our curatorial practice is defined by a long-term engagement with digital artistic practices and by close attention to current technological developments. Art functions as a starting point for exploring broader social questions at the intersection of technology, culture and the future. Alongside physical exhibitions, we realise hybrid and online projects and present online exhibitions via virtual.hek.ch, our dedicated online exhibition space. Our education and outreach programmes address diverse audiences and focus on how tools and systems can be explored hands-on, questioned critically and shaped creatively. Topics range from augmented reality and games to creativity with digital tools, blockchain, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.

A key and distinctive part of HEK’s work within the Swiss cultural landscape is its media art collection, which focuses on born-digital works by Swiss artists. Preserving these works over time requires new conservation approaches, technical expertise and interdisciplinary collaboration. HEK is actively developing knowledge and practice in this field. Information about the collection is available on our website, and the digital infrastructure for hosting, emulation and archiving is continuously developed to support the long-term preservation and presentation of digital art.

Our communication strategy is digital and mobile-first. The website serves as the central source of information and as an archive, while social media channels and newsletters form the core of our public communication. Print materials are used selectively and with care for resources. AI-based image or video generation is used only in digital communication, such as on social media or the website, and only when no suitable visual material is available and when creating an alternative would not be feasible within a project’s time or budget. In text-based work, AI is used in a supportive role for tasks such as proofreading, structural suggestions, transcriptions and initial translation drafts. All content is written, reviewed and ultimately taken responsibility for by people.

HEK’s digital infrastructure supports website management and hosting, file storage, collaborative work, archiving, visitor management and internal knowledge sharing. It is hosted locally where possible, maintained in-house and developed collaboratively across technical, educational, communication, administrative and leadership teams. Wherever feasible, HEK prioritises open-source technologies, community-oriented tools and locally rooted infrastructures. Commercial tools are used where necessary for day-to-day operations, with a clear awareness of their limitations.

HEK’s digital strategy applies to the period from 2025 to 2027 and is reviewed and developed on an ongoing basis. Its aim is to connect technological developments, curatorial practice, education and outreach, and institutional processes in a way that supports HEK’s work and contributes to a broader network of cultural institutions, research and the public.