EcoMind: Development of Serious Art Games and the Ecology of Mind in the 21st Century

Information updated on 3rd May, 2025

Keywords: serious art games, digitization of culture, ecosystems, WebXR, VR

Project No. 1.1.1.9/LZP/1/24/009

Implementation period: 01.04.2025-31.03.2028

Budget

184 140,00 EUR, including:

European Regional Development Fund’s support (85%) 156 519,00 eur

State funding (10%) 18 414,00 eur

Funding of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (5%) 9207,00 eur

Partners

Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences

Lead researcher Ieva Gintere

Scientific assistant Alvis Misjuns

VR laboratory

École Supérieure d’Art et de Design d’Orléans, France

RISEBA University of Applied Sciences

Summary

The project is designed in the intersection of information and communication technology and digitization of culture. It intends to develop digital gaming and expand the scope of human resources as well as digitize and promote ideas of ecology embodied in contemporary culture, particularly regarding mental health ecology in terms of peace of mind, self-awareness and related psychological states.

The general aims are 1) to expand the versatility of the researcher’s professional profile through an ability to work in digital art projects from a technical perspective, 2) to support the project’s target group, future creative engineers, especially by focusing on WebXR technology, 3) the creation of an innovative art game EcoMind. The central activities are related to refining the researcher’s digital skills in a cooperation with Orléans School of Art and Design (France) and RISEBA University of Applied Sciences, as well as work on technological solutions for the digital art game’s demo version at the applicant’s institution, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. The anticipated results are the creation of three research articles, including at least one Q1-Q2 open access article and two Scopus/Web of Science level articles, and a prototype of EcoMind serious art game with the technological participation of the post-doctoral researcher and the target group of students, future creative engineers.

Main activities

Learning sessions and practical creation

T2.1 Study course on the basic knowledge of a-frame at Orleans School of Art and Design / École Supérieure d'Art et de Design d'Orléans (ESAD Orléans) led by Nicolas Tilly in June 2025 and June 2027, according to the Consortium agreement between ViA and ESAD

T2.2 Study course led by ViA lecturer Alvis Misjuns “Web Based and Mobile Virtual and Augmented Reality Solutions” in the autumn semester of the study year 2025/2026, attended by Ieva Gintere in the framework of ViA’s Open University

T2.2 Study courses at RISEBA

“Interactive art and multimedia performances” in the spring semester of the study year 2025/2026 (A5)

"Digital storytelling and interactive narratives in audiovisual media art” I, II (B1) in the autumn semester of the study year 2026/2027 in the framework of the academic Master study program "Audiovisual Art and Immersive Technologies" (45213), according to the Consortium agreement between ViA and RISEBA