We’re looking for two UK based creative practitioners with ideas for art and technology works that explore the theme of ‘Actual Reality’.

More about the theme:

When Pervasive Media Studio was founded in 2008, we were excited about the possibilities of mobile technology, taking computing and media beyond the computer screen. Over the years we have imagined "pervasive media" delivered to people out in the physical world, via sensors and location-based tech. We have explored mixing creativity and mobile content: geolocated sound experiences to bring stories alive in outdoor spaces, tech-enabled street games taking over car parks and city squares, wearable devices to connect people and lots more. We were hopeful about the future and how we might build experiences that pervade the real world, in ways that weren't possible before.

Nearly two decades later, many of these technologies are now part of our daily lives. But instead of being liberated from our computer screens, we are tied more and more to our individual devices than ever before. We worry about isolation and a limit to our imaginative potential, but we are also inspired by the ways that these tools have been adapted and subverted to meet the needs of individuals and groups that were never considered in their design.

So this year we’re looking for artistic ideas that take computing out of the computer and into the real world, whether that's a busy shopping street or the kitchen table. We want to ask what "pervasive media" could look like that combines the dreams of 2008 with the technology of 2025. How can art and technology help us to engage with one another in the same reality? What sort of artistic experiences can we create when tech pervades real-world activities? And how do those dreams need to shift and grow, to include those voices that were left out, and reflect a new understanding of growth, wealth, consumerism and progress?

These are the kinds of questions we're thinking about, but we hope you'll bring your own.

Martin O’Leary, Studio Community Lead at Watershed says: 

“We're excited to support artistic work that breaks free from the screen, and gets out there into people's lives. We want to revisit some of the ideas that were so exciting when the Studio was founded, and to question some of the assumptions we made back then about what mobile computation could do for the world. Most of all, we want to see work that subverts the dominant culture of technology, and helps us imagine better ways to live together.”

What we’re offering:

Watershed's Winter Residency (Feb to March 2025) is a rare chance for two creative practitioners from any discipline, career stage and background, to bring the seed of an idea that responds to our theme. You will be supported to spend time thinking, making, asking questions, exploring and sharing possibilities. There is no expectation of outcome, but we will ask you to share your thoughts along the way.

Victoria Tillotson, Talent Development Lead at Watershed says:

“Watershed’s Winter Residency programme offers tailored support for creative practice and the development of ideas. We know from experience that freedom to think through making, with no pressure on outcome, can reverberate in unexpected ways and lead to fascinating opportunities over time.”

Craig Scott, Watershed’s Patterns in Practice Residency Artist 2024, says this about their experience:

“I have gained so many things from this Residency – a whole new community, ongoing support and professional development. But perhaps one of the most exciting things for me is that it has re-framed my relationship with automated instrument design and opened up a lot of new potentials.”

How to apply:

The deadline for applications is Mon 4 Nov 2024, 18:00. To find out more about the programme, the application process and how to contact us if you have any questions, please head over to our opportunities page.

Watershed's Winter Residencies are made possible with support from Arts Council England and MyWorld.

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