The Milton Keynes lslamic Arts and Culture Foundation celebrated the iconic City of Codes and Light Festival, which took place last week from Wednesday 2nd October to Saturday 5th October. This year’s festival explored how artificial intelligence intersects with art, science, and technology through a series of immersive learning activities, interactive workshops, and thought-provoking symposiums.
Anouar Kassim MBE, CEO, Artistic Director, and Founder of The Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture Foundation (MKIAC) says that “The City of Codes and Light Festival isn’t just a celebration of creativity and technology; it’s a platform to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. By intertwining AI with the rich cultural tapestry of Milton Keynes, the festival highlights the role that AI plays in shaping our future while also honouring the significant contributions of Islamic heritage to modern technology and innovation. With events designed for all ages and backgrounds, the festival aims to unite the community, fostering a deeper understanding of how AI and cultural diversity can work together to create a more inclusive and connected society.”
The aim was to give a transformative experience that highlights the role of AI in modern innovation while fostering creative dialogue and collaboration across multiple disciplines. The opportunity to explore the dynamic intersections between culture and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), discovering how ancient wisdom and modern technology converge to inspire innovative thinking. By bringing together artists, scientists, educators, and performers, the festival aimed to spark a lively exchange of ideas, showcasing the harmonious collaboration between art and science to create a more connected and brighter future.
The First Day- Symposium on Mathematics, AI and Creative Patterns
The four-day event began with a thought-provoking symposium on Mathematics, AI and Creative Patterns at Bletchley Park and culminate on Saturday evening with an extraordinary projection on the MK Central Library. This was followed by the Electric Drummers leading the Parade of Lights and joined by Eva the Polar Bear, a large mechanical puppet. The event culminated an exhilarating ‘Theatre in the Sky’ display by the world-renowned drone art show company Celestial, accompanied by the electric sounds of Jimi Needles & the Club Classics Orchestra at Campbell Park. The festival explored the theme of the fascinating world of bees and their ability to construct intricate, geometrically flawless structures. A visual representation of this idea has been the creation of an interactive artwork called “The HIVE,” created by local students and artists and was displayed in the Central Library. Through a captivating blend of art, light, and technology, the festival celebrated the beauty of nature’s engineering alongside human creativity, demonstrating how these elements come together to inspire new ways of thinking.
The Second Day – Bridging Tradition with Innovation.
The festival opened with a seminar at Bletchley Park, museum and heritage site, which celebrated the achievements of the WW2 codebreakers, where the first global AI Safety Summit was hosted in 2023. Attendees enjoyed inspiring speeches covering the historical development of geometric patterns in Islamic art, showing how these designs are rooted in mathematical principles. Speakers will also discuss how modern AI techniques can replicate and innovate on these patterns.
The Third Day – ‘AI for Good’ Symposium and Music Concert’
On Thursday morning, the South- Central Institute of Technology hosted a symposium focused on the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in driving positive impacts through championing young people. The event bought together industry experts, business innovators and students in an effort to explore how AI can be used to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Building on the successful events in previous years, the Symposium featured a series of short presentations, panel discussions covering a wide range of topics, potentially including ‘Ethical AI, AI in Healthcare and Life Sciences, Sustainable AI Solutions for Environmental Challenge, Inclusive and Fair AI Systems, AI and Economic Development’. In the evening a stunning musical performance by Turkish musicians. Founded in 2023, Group Masal redefines Turkish music with a perfect fusion of modern and traditional sounds which each performance blending ancient rhythms with contemporary flair.
A range of workshops for school groups in the Milton Keynes Central Library also took place and these interactive sessions blended history, science, and creativity, exploring STEAM concepts through hands-on activities and bringing innovation to life for young minds.
The Grand Finale- Digital Lantern Parade, Performances and “Theatre in the Sky” Celestial Drone Show
Taking place through the course of Saturday ‘The Hive Art Installation’ which was a visual representation of neuroscience, AI and the concept of social connectedness. This interactive art installation was displayed at the Milton Keynes Central Library followed by an extraordinary projection mapping piece called “Nature’s algorithm.”
The Digital Drummers also led the parade of lights with an electrifying performance through the streets of Milton Keynes. Followed by a hive of bee-shaped lanterns created by local schools and community members. The parade featured a large mechanical puppet by the name of Eva the Polar Bear. This vibrant parage bought the city to life as it made its way to Campbell Park for the festival’s grand finale.
The final closing of the festival exhibited a breath-taking “Theatre in the Sky” Celestial Drone Display with a classical orchestra. The grand finale featured an amazing drone display over Campbell Park by ‘Celestial’. This bought the stars to life in the form of a show-stopping digital art feature made up of 300 drones accompanied by the innovative sounds of Jimi Needles & the Club Classics Orchestra, The evening was an amazing celebration of Islamic Heritage, art, innovation AI with a stunning fusion of lights, music, and dance.
The Milton Keynes AI Festival is also taking place in the last week of October if you would like to visit. For more information please visit https://www.mkiac.org/
The adventurous spirit behind the pages of British Muslim magazine. As the Editor-in-Chief, Natasha leads with a passion for exploration and a pen dipped in wanderlust. With a keen eye for halal travel experiences and an insatiable curiosity for new experiences, she brings readers along on captivating journeys to far-flung destinations. Through her vibrant storytelling, Natasha invites readers on enriching adventures, where every experience is a window into the muslim world.
