Gaming the Civic

Gaming the Civic is a programme that invites audiences to experience, play and take part in game-based artworks that explore civic engagement and democratic participation in public spaces. 

It brings together media art, game design, critical thinking, and the gaming industry. Gaming the Civic supports artists to create works that use digital games and emerging technologies to involve people as active participants in public realms. Rather than observing from the sidelines, audiences are invited to play, interact, and contribute. The programme highlights the embodied nature and immersive qualities of digital gaming as tools for dialogue, collective action and new forms of immersive public engagement as well as strengthening people’s role in civil society.

During the pilot phase (2026–2027) newly commissioned artworks will be produced in public space in Finland. In addition, a series of workshops will offer opportunities for participants to explore game design, media art, and civic questions together with artists and experts.

Digital games shape contemporary culture and everyday life in profound ways. Gaming has been, and is more and more recognised as an increasingly important channel for engaging with today's society. Games and gamification has also had a wide impact on many other areas of life, such as the security industry, public space, organisational practices, and the formation of unexplored identities. Gaming the Civic explores the cultural power of digital games and gamification to foster new kinds of societal discussions and opportunities for democratic life. 

The project is organised in collaboration with Aalto University’s Game Design and Development and New Media programmes. Additional partners and commissioned artworks will be announced in spring 2026.