idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
Bayreuth / Hof – Hof University of Applied Sciences has received funding from the City of Bayreuth for a forward-looking digitization project. Under the title “3D Digitization of Historic Stage Designs of the Bayreuth Festival Theatre”, significant stage design models from the archive of the Richard Wagner Museum Bayreuth are being reconstructed and brought to life using state-of-the-art AI technologies. The project is part of the anniversary year “Festival150” in Bayreuth and adds an innovative digital dimension to the cultural program of the world-renowned Bayreuth Festival.
The historic stage design models for the operas of Richard Wagner are among the most important artifacts in theater history. They not only document staging concepts but also reflect the evolution of the Gesamtkunstwerk over more than a century. More than 100 of these highly detailed models are stored in the museum’s archive—most of which have so far been largely inaccessible to the public.
The aim of the project is to digitally preserve selected models, make them accessible for academic research, and open them up to a broad audience. “For the first time, we are making the hidden treasures of Wagner’s stage worlds fully accessible—and in a way that goes far beyond traditional exhibitions,” explains Professor Michael Zöllner from the research group Interactive & Data Driven Systems (iisys) at Hof University of Applied Sciences.
Artificial Intelligence Meets Culture
At the core of the project is the use of cutting-edge AI-based methods such as Gaussian Splatting and Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs). These technologies enable the creation of photorealistic, freely navigable 3D models from millions of data points. The computations are carried out at the AI Application Center of Hof University of Applied Sciences using high-performance computing systems.
This is complemented by traditional digitization methods such as high-resolution panoramic images and 2D/2.5D reproductions. “Our AI models make it possible not only to view the stage designs, but to virtually enter and understand them,” continues Prof. Zöllner. “This opens up entirely new perspectives for knowledge transfer and cultural participation.”
Experience for the Public
A key objective of the project is the development of interactive applications based on Extended Reality (XR). In the future, visitors will be able to explore historic stage designs virtually, move freely through the models, and discover details about structure, dramaturgy, and staging.
The first results of the project are expected to be presented at public events, including the RiWa Street Festival and on the festival promenade in Bayreuth during the anniversary year.
Project Timeline
The project runs from April to October 2026 and is divided into several coordinated phases. Initially, suitable stage design models will be selected in collaboration with the Richard Wagner Museum Bayreuth, set up, and scientifically documented.
This is followed by digitization: in addition to high-resolution 2D images, the models will be captured using 360° photography and video. Based on this data, photorealistic 3D reconstructions will be generated using AI methods such as Gaussian Splatting and computed at Hof University of Applied Sciences.
The results will culminate in an interactive prototype exhibit and an accompanying website.
Research, Preservation, and Future Perspectives
In addition to public engagement, the project also pursues scientific objectives. It lays the foundation for the systematic digitization of the entire collection and develops guidelines for future digitization projects in the cultural sector.
The stage designs—once conceived as a “silently enabling backdrop”—are thus brought to the forefront of a new digital perspective. They are not only preserved but made newly accessible in all their complexity.
“We are combining cultural history with technological innovation. In doing so, we are making an important contribution to the sustainable preservation of our cultural heritage,” concludes Prof. Zöllner.
Prof. Michael Zöllner
Hochschule Hof
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