XTREME Reaches Its Midway Milestone – Read the Feature on the ITU Homepage

As we reach the midway point of the XTREME project, we’re proud to be featured in a new article on the ITU homepage, highlighting the project’s vision and achievements so far.

Led by Professor Sami S. Brandt and coordinated by Justyna Starostka, XTREME is a Horizon Europe–funded research project exploring how mixed reality (MR) and spatial sound can bring art and music closer to people—especially those who face barriers to accessing traditional cultural experiences.

The article, presented as an interview between Sami and Justyna, captures key developments from the first 18 months of the project, including:

• The upcoming evaluation prototype, which will be tested with users later this year
• Our collaboration with Irish musicians and dancers during early data capturing sessions
• The creative exchange between artists and technologists
• The ongoing MUNCH production, developed with artists Silvana Imam and Paula Strunden, using 4DSOUND and MR to create a shared art experience between Oslo and Copenhagen

💬 In the article, Sami Brandt explains the project’s core ambition:

“We want to take the concert or art event to the user—not the other way around.”

This approach drives the development of immersive technologies that bring cultural experiences directly into people’s homes—while preserving a strong sense of presence and social connection.

Justyna Starostka, XTREME’s project and communication manager, adds:

“We’re doing something groundbreaking by being the middle space between those great artists and highly specialised tech scientists.”

👉 Read the full article in English here. Danish version can be found here.