Boston Cyberarts Festival 2003

April 26 - May 11, 2003

The 2003 Festival took place from April 26 - May 11 2003 with over 75 organizations and 100 programs with over 350 artists, humanists, and scientists. It featured visual and performing arts and explored how artists throughout the world are using computers to advance traditional artistic disciplines and create new interactive worlds. Many of these artists would not have the opportunity to share their work with the public or to build partnerships with cultural institutions if not for the Cyberarts Festival.  

In 2003, Boston Cyberarts organized its first ever CyberArtCentral for Kids. This collaborative space took place at Cloud Place on Boylston Street. Hundreds of kids and their parents came through the CyberArtCentral for Kids on the three weekends it was open during the Festival.  Musical events included the American premiere of the Toy Symphony and the BEAMS Electronic Music Marathon among many others.

The festival also included three conferences: Digital Art and Public Space Conference, The Visual Improvisation Symposium, and the eNarratives Conference and public reading. The conferences were as important to the Festival as the exhibitions and performances in that they attracted a large national and international audience and were a vehicle for the development critical dialogues about art and technology. 

Boston Cyberarts FESTIVAL Survey:

The University of Massachusetts Center for Policy Analysis surveyed  a wide range of festival goers to analyze the  economic impact of the Boston Cyberarts Festival. The surveys indicate that Festival attendees were pleased with the Cyberarts Festival and its events. For example, nearly all respondents rate the Festival as excellent or good. Similarly, most respondents indicate that the events they attended were excellent or good and almost all would recommend the Festival to their friends.  Eighty-five percent of respondents indicated that they would attend the next Cyberarts Festival.

Festival attendance has increased significantly since 1999, with this year's Festival attracting approximately 21,000 attendees. The total number of visitations to the Cyberarts venues is estimated to be 60,000.  While the majority of Festival attendees were from Massachusetts, an estimated 10.0 percent were from other areas of the country and 2.0 percent were from other countries. 

The analysis estimates that in FY 2003, Boston Cyberarts generated a total regional economic impact of $2,588,854 and created an additional 32.4 full-time equivalent year-round jobs. The major employment impacts occurred in non-profit organizations, eating and drinking establishments, management and consulting, and hotels and lodging. Thus, the Boston Cyberarts Festival not only benefits the arts community, but also contributes to Boston's larger economic development strategy in the areas of tourism and professional services.