Organizer Information
CULTVR Lab is Europe’s premier immersive cross-disciplinary venue, dedicated to the advancement of digital arts, XR (Extended Reality) live performances, and 360º cinema. Conceived by the award-winning 4Pi Productions, the Lab serves as a collaborative hub where artists, technologists, and academics converge to push the boundaries of immersive storytelling. The facility is renowned for its cutting-edge infrastructure, featuring 10ft and 20ft stereoscopic domes, an infinity mirror room, and a signature 40ft dome venue equipped with a sophisticated 16.1 surround sound system. Supported by the Arts Council of Wales, CULTVR Lab facilitates the research, development, and public presentation of innovative works that merge physical and digital realities.
Title & Description
Catalyst 360º: Immersive Arts Residency 2026
This residency is an ambitious research and creation program designed to support artists in developing and testing new immersive productions and live experiences. The program invites creative practitioners to leverage the unique capabilities of CULTVR’s 360º immersive dome and surround sound environment. Artists are encouraged to experiment with new methods of storytelling, environmental awareness, and interactive media. The residency lasts for one month—incorporating remote work and 5 to 7 days of intensive on-site access—culminating in a public ticketed presentation and a Q&A session.
Categories
- Visual Arts & Animation
- Immersive Audiovisual Performance
- Digitally Augmented Theatre, Dance, or Live Music
- Sound Art & Multichannel Sonic Installations
- Interactive Immersive Installations
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) based works
- Generative, Real-time, or Data-driven Creative Visualization
- Fulldome Cinema with live elements
- Game Design and Architecture
Eligibility
The program is open to individual artists or collaborative teams. The organizers seek to support a diverse cohort, specifically aiming to select:
- One artist or team from Wales.
- One artist or team from the wider UK.
- One International project. Applications are welcome regardless of age, career stage, race, religion, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. Applicants must demonstrate autonomy in technical aspects and have prior experience in creating immersive projects. Submitted projects must be original and not previously presented in a completed form (though works-in-progress are eligible).
Program Benefits & Awards
Financial Support: A development package of up to £4,000 covering artist fees and production costs.
- Travel Stipend: Up to £1,250 for international artists and up to £750 for UK-based artists (reimbursed via receipts).
- Venue Access: 5–7 days of access to CULTVR’s equipment and dome facilities (valued at £15,000 of in-kind support).
- Professional Development: Induction workshops, remote technical support, and peer support through the CULTVR community.
- Exhibition: Public presentation of the work as part of CULTVR’s regular programming, including marketing and documentation.
- Distribution: Co-production agreement and access to CULTVR’s global distribution networks.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Creative Team details and practice summary (max 1,500 characters).
- Links to CVs, Portfolios, videos, and websites.
- Project Title and a brief pitch (max 450 characters).
- Detailed Project Description (max 3,000 characters).
- Production Timeline (using the provided website template).
- Detailed Budget (between £1,000 and £4,000, using the provided template).
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 9 January 2026
- Notification Date: 27 February 2026
- Production Meetings: March 1st – 31st, 2026
- Public Announcement: Late March 2026.
- Residency Period: April to November 2026 (5–7 days on-site).
- Public Presentations: May to November 2026.
Location
Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Additional Details
Selected artists retain the Intellectual Property (IP) of their projects, while CULTVR acts as a distributor and co-producer. The selection committee prioritizes concepts that show artistic or technological progress in the field. If you require accessibility assistance or alternate formats, contact the organizers early.