Ben Neal

ECSTATIC to announce we're a FINALIST for the Lumen Prize! With over 2,200+ submissions from 71 countries, amongst the most boundary-pushing, conceptually rich, & technically innovative work in the world, we are truly honoured for REPLICA to be chosen! lumenprize.org/2025-perform...

Humans In The Loop is a gorgeous & wonderfully fresh take on the modern world and AI. Currently in Channel 4 & Netflix youtu.be/Op3kfZqBFKQ?...

Had an incredible time presenting our XR dance experience Replica over 3 days at the Embodied Realms festival in Poznań, Poland. We're looking for more festivals to be part of. Would like to hear your recommendations! www.displace.org.uk/replica London event coming soon.

Watershed’s director of research Jo Lansdowne has been awarded a £1.5 million UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship to explore how the UK’s creative technology sector can “better support marginalised and underrepresented entrepreneurs”.

Deadline approaching for creative orgs to apply for funding and support to go to SXSW. Applications close on 22 Oct buff.ly/HBUbYOy

Superb research into Accessibility for Immersive tech projects from @unwireddance.bsky.social with a central focus on deaf participants, but lots of broader wisdom and learning in a well laid out booklet and toolkit www.unwireddancetheatre.com/where-we-mee...

Love live immersive performance? ⚡️ Apply for our fully funded 12-week Immersive Arts Bootcamp: Real-Time Technologies. Learn TouchDesigner + Unreal Engine, develop a prototype, and gain skills to take your live immersive performance project forward. Apply for Jan 2027! 👉🏼 bom.org.uk/immersive-ar...

Introducing the Freelancers’ Handbook, a practical guide created by freelancers, for freelancers. 📷 🔗 Explore the free Handbook and Resources Directory: www.artscouncil.org.uk/freelancers-...

Arts Council England (ACE) has launched a Freelancers’ Handbook, offering “practical guidance on contracts, fees, funding, tax, business development, wellbeing, and more”.

This is one of the most mind-boggling things I've read for a while. If you have an interest in the senses and vision, every page is a wonder.

In this week's Lunchtime Talk on Fri 2 Oct 13:00-14:00, Bristol-based Immersive Storyteller, Dominique Vyborna will share all you've ever needed to know about immersive character creation and storytelling. Book a ticket on our website: www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/14340/inhabiting-strange-lives

AI has a problem. The problem is, no one cares about driverless car races

I'm currently navigating cash flow problems. Look at @artsprofessional.co.uk 's survey (2025) on UK Art sector! Freelancers creating the work are the most insecure and at risk. www.artsprofessional.co.uk/wp-content/u... Webinar by @thespacearts.bsky.social soon. www.thespace.org/event/how-do...

Calling all freelance creatives! Over the coming months we’re running a webinar series offering advice to help you thrive in these challenging times. The first one is about navigating uncertain income on Thur 22nd Oct: bit.ly/4xHGCLc More details about the other sessions coming soon! #Freelancers

@ijaddance.bsky.social has announced Open Online Theatre Arts/Tech Residency 26/27 – a six-month hybrid Arts/Tech residency where participants can experiment with technologies including VR, AI, volumetrics, motion capture and multi-camera live streaming. buff.ly/5S0xJH7

Birmingham Open Studios is 2 weekends (Sept 26-27 & Oct 3-4) in which artists all over the region open their studio doors to visitors. There's an app that helps you travel from place to place. Joe Lycett says go explore! birminghamopenstudios.co.uk/download-our...

BREAKING: Steam Frame has been launched! The price starts from $1,059 and it comes with a standalone build of Half-Life: Alyx! skarredghost.com/2026/09/14/s... #VirtualReality #VR #technology #SteamFrame #hardware

We have some big and exciting news! 📣 We've secured over £8.5m to continue supporting UK artists working with immersive technologies until 2030. Further details, including funding opportunities, will be shared in the New Year. Read the announcement: immersivearts.uk/news/8-5m-second-phase-funding/

It's difficult to understand now how mind blowing watching the original Japanese version of The Ring was at the time. I remember rewatching the scene where she crawls out of the TV - just to make sure it really happened in the film

Absolutely recommend Handy if you ever need speech to text functionality that runs on a number of devices and is free. Currently using it on Windows and it's great! handy.computer

The application portal is now open for Round 3 of Incentivising Touring Repayable Grants for Theatre and Dance (ITRG)! Before you apply, you must book a 10 min conversation with a member of the team. Booking is open until 18 September. Book your call https://bit.ly/4f0Spgm

That's why we're demanding the new PM make the arts: 🌱 Available from childhood 🔓 Accessible to all 🗺️ Thriving everywhere ✏️ Sign the petition: www.campaignforthearts.org/petitions/10...

Would you like to create a new sound, music, digital or audiovisual work that pushes the boundaries of audience experience? We're partnering with @crypticglasgow.bsky.social to offer a £40k award to a disabled artist based in Scotland. Apply by Mon 28 Sept: bit.ly/UPAc

Who’s joining us in Llandudno this September? 🥳 From Wed 9- Fri 11 Sept The Big Thing is bringing more than 70 workshops, performances and networking events to North Wales, all inspired by this year's theme, Play's the Thing. immersivearts.uk/events/the-big-thing

Whether you’re an artist, a producer or simply curious about how artists use digital technologies to share their stories, join our webinar next week to explore a theme that connects us all: home 🏠 13 Aug at 11am: bit.ly/4fAkts9 #Home #DigitalArt

Spaces are filling up for our Immersive Workshops! 💚 There are still spots left for our workshops, which return for 2 weeks from 1st September. These sessions are fully funded by CreaTech Frontiers and available to participants living in the West Midlands. Find out more 👉🏼 bom.org.uk/immersivewor...

Our Immersive Workshops in partnership with CreaTech Frontiers are back! 📣 Returning from the 1st of September, we’re running 2 weeks of taster sessions. These courses are free and available to individuals living in the West Midlands. Find out more: bom.org.uk/immersivewor...

Interesting Jon Rafman interview on disparate sub cultures, the dissolving of meaning, and the flattening of the internet www.anothermag.com/art-photogra...

Join us in Llandudno, Wed 9 - Fri 11 September for our annual event The Big Thing! This year's theme, Play's the Thing, explores how artists invite audiences into their work in playful, meaningful and empowering ways. Read about the full programme: immersivearts.uk/news/the-big-thing-in-llandudno

We are seeking a creative and committed Marketing & Communications Officer to join our team! Head to our website to learn more. #ArtsJobs

This is going to be excellent! Along with all the livecoding goodness, Tom Fox will be showing off his SPOKE board, and Lia Mice is bringing along her Soft Cymatics playable tapestry.

Why do Tesco self service tills now have the voice of Noel Fielding??

AI coding agents - literally doing my job for me and also putting me out of work, but heck - here's the best of em medium.com/@writertripa...

I have a new website. It's a different approach to my usual "portfolio first" mindset. It's also heavy on the animation. Does it work for you, or not? www.psiconlab.co.uk

Are you in an arts/cultural organisation in need of some digital support? 🤔 Thinking about.... ❓Developing online audiences ❓Creating digital content ❓Generating income from digital ❓Making best use of archive content or collections Find out about our FREE support - bit.ly/Ment26_Bluesky

Anyone into Substack?

🟢🔵🟡🔴 West Mids & Warks playful folks from Fri July 10th we're hosting a new series of free playful co-working afternoons. It'll be a relaxed time for folks to playtest, prototype and hangout in the comfort of Leamington's Dice Box Cafe. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-co-wo... pls + thnx for sharing!

📣 Calling all performers &producers! 📣 Our deadline for our Immersive Arts Bootcamp: Real-time Technologies is next week on Friday 26th June! There are a few spots left on our FREE course teaching TouchDesigner & Unreal Engine, focusing on live performance. Apply 👉🏼 bom.org.uk/immersive-ar...

It's a great time to be alive if you want to be a deceiver!

An interesting study, but maybe not especially surprising - 40% of participants in this virtual meet-up didn't notice when users and their avatars were switched, showing how fragile identity in VR currently is. presence-xr.eu/study-reveal...

UK to ban most major social media platforms for under 16 year olds from Monday! www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

It's unbelievable how widespread conspiracy belief is. I keep meeting, and hearing of, otherwise normal friends (of friends) with outlandish beliefs on vaccines, chemtrails, religion, you name it... It's a huge problem ruining relationships and distorting people www.publicfirst.co.uk/the-commissi...

Spectral Karaoke this Friday at Pan Pan ✨

Guidance for round 2 of the Creative Foundations Fund is available now, with up to £76.8m to improve cultural buildings and equipment. 🏛️ Read the full guidance, explore eligibility and find out how to apply 👇 https://bit.ly/4o3yxNA

We’re bringing Soul Paint to BOM! 🎨 Experience the multi-award-winning VR experience on 24th June. We’re delighted to host Soul Paint as part of the events for Healing Arts Birmingham in association with Jameel Arts Health Lab, Birmingham City Council & @who.int. Book here 👉🏼 bom.org.uk/soulpaint/

First Friday is a monthly social & showcasing event open to anyone. This Fri 5 June between 17:00-19:00 we’re transforming the Studio into a Goblin Market, an alternative marketplace that explores new ways of making, exchanging & valuing creative work. www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/14122/first-friday

Fantastic opportunity from the fantastic Birmingham Open Media: