From 1982 to 2004 World Wide has presented 22 editions of its media art festival. World Wide has always been, and will continue to be, a platform for media artists to present their work. For many of these artists it would have been their first appearance in an international setting. The festival included all forms of media art: single screen (video, film, net-art, cd-rom) and performance art. The exhibitions and presentations took place at various locations, such as the Gemeentemuseum in Den Haag, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the Melkweg Amsterdam, to name but a few. Each edition has been documented in an extensive catalogue.

World Wide has also initiated the commission of numerous new works by artists including Michal Rovner, Stefaan Decostere, General Idea, Atsushi Ogata, Eder Santos, and Minette Vari. Festival selections have been shown at various venues around the world, including the Pusan Biennale, the Michaels Gallery (Capetown), the Prince of Wales Museum (Bombay) and the Milan Triennale.

Over the years an extensive collection was formed consisting of tapes and installations. This archive is currently being catalogued and digitized. Works from the collection are lent out if possible. Under the heading “Archive” the website contains a year-by-year survey of 22 years of the World Wide Video Festival.

At present World Wide’s activities are focused on developing a 360 Degree Panorama, a series of large-screen video projections for public spaces, and the opening up of the collection for exhibitions and screenings.

Tom van Vliet