The Art of Darkness project took part in the New European Bauhaus Festival Fair in Brussels from 9–13 June 2026 as part of the NEBULE (New European Bauhaus United for a Living Environment) collective exhibition. Hosted at the NEBULE stand, the project joined nine other Horizon Europe-funded initiatives showcasing innovative approaches to co-creation, sustainability, culture, and inclusive urban development.
Throughout the event, the Art of Darkness team presented the project’s vision, methodology, and early results to a broad audience of policymakers, researchers, designers, public authorities, and New European Bauhaus stakeholders.
Three project videos helped attract attention, serving as conversation starters and drawing visitors to explore the project’s work on darkness as a cultural, environmental, and social resource.
The project also organised three participatory workshop sessions based on scenario design games.
Participants were invited to imagine and discuss urban nighttime experiences from both human and non-human perspectives, generating lively exchanges on how darkness can contribute to more sustainable, inclusive, and culturally meaningful urban environments.
The Fair provided valuable opportunities to engage directly with key European and international stakeholders. The project team exchanged with representatives from European institutions and national administrations, including a member of the European Parliament and representatives of the Finnish Ministry of the Environment. European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva also visited the NEBULE stand and was introduced to the collective exhibition.
The project also sparked particular interest from renowned German lighting designer Ulrike Brandi, who joined the coordinator Henrika Pihlajaniemi for an in-depth discussion on the role of darkness in contemporary lighting practice and potential avenues for future collaborations.
Beyond showcasing the project, participation in the New European Bauhaus Festival enabled the Art of Darkness consortium to exchange ideas with fellow Horizon Europe projects and contribute to wider discussions on culture, sustainability, heritage, and urban transformation.
The event proved to be an excellent platform for raising awareness of the project’s objectives and strengthening its visibility within the European research, policy, and design communities.
By participating in the NEB Fair, Art of Darkness increased awareness of the project’s objectives and contributed to the wider European conversation on how darkness can be recognised, protected, and creatively integrated as part of our cultural heritage and urban landscapes.
Photos: © Eider Olazar Elduaier, Talita Medina Amaral, Nelson Henrique Silva and Henrika Pihlajaniemi