You’ve been offered an “interactive installation.” Now what?
A digital artwork isn’t a painting you hang on a wall. It has power requirements, network needs (or not), specific spatial constraints, and potential failure modes. But it’s not as complicated as it sounds — if you ask the right questions upfront.
This guide covers everything a festival programmer or curator needs to know before committing.
The 7 questions to ask the artist
1. What’s the tech rider?
The technical rider is your contract-level document. It should include: - Power requirements (how many outlets, total wattage) - Space requirements (minimum m², ceiling height, darkness level) - Network needs (WiFi? Ethernet? None?) - Mounting time (hours/days) and dismounting time - Required furniture/supports (tables, screens, mounts) - Environmental constraints (temperature, humidity, dust)
Red flag: If the artist can’t provide a clear tech rider, the work isn’t production-ready.
2. Does it need a technician on site?
Three tiers: - Fully autonomous: Turn it on, it runs. No supervision needed. (Best for festivals) - Daily check: Someone needs to restart/check once a day. (Acceptable) - Continuous supervision: Needs a technician during open hours. (Expensive — factor into budget)
3. What happens if it breaks?
Every digital work can fail. The question isn’t “will it?” but “what’s the recovery plan?” - Can it auto-restart? - Is there a phone number to call? - How long is the maximum downtime? - Is there a “graceful failure” mode (something displayed even when the interactive part is down)?
4. What’s the budget impact?
Beyond the artist fee, consider: - Transport (flight cases, fragile equipment) - Insurance (equipment value) - Power (some installations draw significant wattage) - Network (dedicated line if needed) - Mounting/dismounting labor - Consumables (thermal paper, ink, etc.)
5. What’s the audience interaction model?
- One at a time (VR) → queuing management needed
- Small group (2-4 players) → natural rotation
- Crowd (projected, ambient) → no management needed
- Participatory (phones, bodies) → potential WiFi load
6. Is it accessible?
- Age restrictions? (VR typically 10+)
- Physical accessibility? (standing required? seated option?)
- Language-dependent? (if so, which languages?)
- Sensory considerations? (strobing, loud sounds, darkness)
7. What does the artist need from you?
Typical artist needs: - Dedicated space (enclosed or open) - Power (usually standard outlets are fine) - Access for mounting (loading dock, elevator) - Dark/quiet environment (for some works) - Storage for flight cases during the event - A local contact for emergencies
Budget ranges (artist fee + production)
| Format | Typical range | Notes | |