Organizer Information:

CultTech Association, in collaboration with track partners Zafraan Ensemble, Shrine, and Voices Berlin Festival. CultTech Lab is an international program exploring the intersection of art, technology, music, and cultural research.

Title & Description:

Applications are open for the CultTech Lab 2026.

The Lab invites artists, musicians, designers, technologists, and interdisciplinary teams to develop new works and prototypes. Unlike a typical online course, the Lab supports projects from early concepts through to production-ready prototypes. Participants must apply to one of two distinct tracks:

  • Track 1: Contemporary Classical Music (Understanding Through Gamification): Designing interactive, game-based experiences (Web3, boardgames, escape rooms, etc.) that make complex music engaging.
  • Track 2: Memory and Identity (Reconnection Through AI): Using AI as a tool for artistic research to develop performative, spatial, or digital works dealing with migration and cultural displacement.

Category:

Art & Technology, AI, Game Design, Music, & Interdisciplinary Arts.

Eligibility:

  • Who: Open to individuals and teams worldwide. There are no restrictions regarding age, gender, education, or professional status.
  • Program Structure: The program is divided into a "School" phase and a "Studio" phase. All selected teams enter the School phase. Only a select, competitive number of teams advance to the Studio phase.

Program Benefits & Awards:

  • School Phase (Online): A two-month guided online program with art and tech curators, mentorship, project plan development, CultTech Weekly feature visibility, Summit pass, and a one-year CultTech membership.
  • Studio Phase (Hybrid/Onsite): Teams selected for the Studio phase receive:
    • A Production Grant (up to €2,500).
    • A 4-day Onsite Studio Camp (travel and accommodation fully covered).
    • Dedicated producer support.
    • Presentation at the CultTech Summit 2026 in Vienna (travel and accommodation fully covered).

Application Fee & Program Costs:

  • Application Fee: Free to apply.
  • School Phase Fee: Participation in the online School phase requires a fee of €450 per team. (Note: Grants covering up to 100% of this fee are available via the CultTech Association).
  • Studio Phase: Fully funded for the teams selected to advance.

How to Apply?

Submit your application online via the official CultTech Lab website.

Key Dates:

  • Application Deadline: April 9, 2026.
  • School Stage (Online): April 25 – June 20, 2026.
  • Studio Stage (Hybrid): June 26 – November 1, 2026. (Includes a 4-day onsite Studio Camp from June 26–29, 2026).
  • Showcase Stage: CultTech Summit 2026 (Dates TBA).

Location:

Online (School Phase) and Vienna, Austria (Studio Camp & Summit Showcase).

Contact Information:

Website & Application Link: https://culttech.at/lab