Media Art Xploration (MAXlive) is a NYC-based non-profit production company that was founded in 2018 by Founding Director Kay Matschullat to support the development, production, and presentation of compelling and artistically sophisticated new work that brings important questions surrounding scientific research and emerging technology to the public in an accessible format. As accelerating climate change, technologies such as artificial intelligence chatbots and AI surveillance, and new research into animal intelligence and perception call into question our role as humans, we believe that it is imperative that artists working in live performance and immersive installation are given adequate resources to explore these developments.

From a science communication standpoint, we believe that works experienced live have a unique ability to catalyze deep emotional transformation and intellectual consideration. MAXlive aims to bring both arts and science audiences together and strengthen the production capacity of the greater arts ecosystem by providing substantive production support to artists both familiar and new to engaging with science and emerging technologies. In addition to supporting new commissions through our MAXmachina laboratory, we also present MAXlive full productions with venue partners around the country  featuring new works by choreographers, playwrights, composers, and technologists that grapple with the most pressing issues of our time. We also host a live conversation series, MAXforum, where artists and scientists share their processes with the public.

Media Art Xploration is supported in part by Simons Foundation International and administered by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division. Additional Funding provided by the Ettinger foundation, public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the generous support of our individual donors.