Artists, designers, technologists, makers, researchers, and friends of the PNW arts and technology community are invited to join us for Electric SEA, an arts and tech creative hackathon Thurs-Sat Mar 26-28, including a Showcase Exhibition Saturday evening, Mar 28.

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for the Saturday evening, March 28th Showcase Exhibition

Please note the hackathon has sold out, be sure and save your spot at the Showcase Exhibition.

Electric SEA is an extended weekend event optimized for hands-on learning, knowledge sharing and collaboration here in Seattle. We will take over multiple floors of the PublicDisplay.ART and the ArtLove Salon downtown arts space, creating a fluid, open environment for experimentation, collaboration, and public engagement.

We are excited to announce Dr. Elizabeth Churchill will be giving a Keynote address to kick off our Showcase Exhibition Saturday March 28 at 8:00pm, and joining our panel of judges, for the Src Material prizes presented at 8:30pm.

Showcase Exhibition Keynote:

Negotiated Agency: Finding Our Creative Voice in the Age of I3 (Intelligence, Interaction, and Innovation)

Abstract: As generative AI blurs the line between human creativity and computation, how do we keep our “creative sovereignty”? Drawing on recent conversations with creators in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I will introduce a new project: I3 (Intelligence, Interaction, and Innovation). We will explore the concept of negotiated agency—a framework that helps artists and designers use AI without losing their voice or authorship. By moving past the “pro-AI vs. anti-AI” debate, we can focus on what really matters: building systems designed for collaboration, fair attribution, and human-centered innovation.

Dr. Elizabeth Churchill is a globally recognized leader in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and human-centered AI, with a proven track record of bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and industry-scale product implementation. Currently the Founding Department Chair of HCI at MBZUAI in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and formerly a Senior Director at Google in San Francisco (California, USA), she champions the creation of intuitive, practical technology integrated into the fabric of everyday life. See https://mbzuai.ac.ae/study/faculty/elizabeth-churchill/

Attending the Showcase Exhibition:

Whether or not you have participated in the hackathon, please join us for our exciting Showcase Exhibition, Saturday evening 7:30 to midnight. The hackathon culminates in a public showcase and celebratory reception that gives hackathon participants the opportunity to share their work and creative process with a larger audience, while offering the broader community visibility into this vibrant art and technology ecosystem. 

About the Hackathon:

Participants were invited to bring interdisciplinary, art- and design-driven projects that engage a wide range of creative technologies and practices, including creative code, interactive installation, data visualization, light-based projection, sound art, light art, wearables, performance-based and kinetic works, physical computing, generative systems, vibe coding, mixed reality, Internet of Things, ethical AI tools, and other emerging hybrid practices. In the spirit of hackathons, the emphasis is on experimentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, shared problem-solving, and learning by doing. Learn more about participating in the hackathon here.

What to expect:

The bulk of the hackathon is on Friday and Saturday, with additional time on Thursday and Sunday for setup, workshops, and takedown. See the full, detailed schedule here.

  • Thursday, March 26: Lab setup, preliminary project installation, and early workshops
  • Friday–Saturday, March 27–28: Hackathon, workshops, and collaborative sprints
  • Saturday evening, March 28: Public Showcase Exhibition and reception
  • Sunday, March 29: Debrief and takedown

Access and Support

This event is brought to you by Third Place Technologies in partnership with PublicDipslay.ART, both non-profit 501(c)3 organizations that support the arts communities in the PNW. Thanks to the support of 4Culture, ArtsFund, the Conru Arts Foundation, the ArtLove Salon, Passable Art, and Totally Legit LLC, and the generous contributions of time and expertise from our organizers and volunteers, Electric SEA will be free to attend. However, space is limited so registration is required. We are providing small stipends and microgrants to support workshop and projects, however the deadline to apply is past due.

Organizing Partners:

Third Place Technologies, PublicDisplay.Art, SrcMaterial

Supported by:

ArtLove Salon / Conru Arts Foundation, 4Culture, ArtsFund Community Accelerator Program, Passable.Art / Totally Legit LLC

Your Friendly Third Place Organizing Committee (learn more)

Shelly Farnham, Genevieve Tremblay, Jeff Brice, Joseph Gray, Jacob Fennel, Jeff Larson, Andrew Cole, Josh Lind, Marty Griswold, and members of the board of Src Material

*cover page art by Jeff Brice. Be sure to activate the augmented reality layer on the poster.