The Digital Aesthetic Project 2001 – 2012 was a series of three exhibitions, conferences and websites organised by the Harris Museum & Art Gallery and the Electronic and Digital Art Unit at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

The first, The Digital Aesthetic, which took place in 2001, was initiated by Dr. Chris Meigh-Andrews and curated by James Green and Lindsay Taylor at the Harris, and Dr. Meigh-Andrews at UCLan.

The second, Digital Aesthetic 2, took place in 2007 and was curated by Lindsay Taylor and Richard Smith at the Harris and Chris Meigh-Andrews with assistance from Aneta Krzmein at UCLan.

The third and final project, Digital Aesthetic 2012, was curated by Lindsay Taylor and Chris Meigh-Andrews.

This website is an archive of all three manifestations and includes documentation, video and sound recordings, and information about artists and participants.

Each project included a multi-venue exhibition showing work by artists working in digital media – from international renowned pioneers such as Steina and Woody Vasulka, Takahiko Iimura, Peter Campus, Mary Lucier, Gary Hill, Malcolm le Grice, and Robert Cahen through to emerging regional artists such as Simon Blackmore and Pat Flynn.
Showing work in the historic Harris building has at times been a challenge but through this series of exhibitions, expertise has grown. In turn this has influenced the wider Harris programme, including the collecting of digital art. The Harris now has works by Robert Cahen (DA2), Thomson and Craighead (DA2), John Wood and Paul Harrison (DA2012) and Terry Flaxton (DA2012) in their permanent collections.

The conferences have also been international in scope, with world experts such as Malcolm le Grice, Sean Cubitt, Charlie Gere, Beryl Graham and Sarah Cook speaking.

Partnerships have been a key element to the series – firstly between the Harris Museum & Art Gallery and UCLan, but also with the BBC, Preston Minster, folly, AND Festival and more. Each has also been supported by Arts Council England.