DEADLINE: SUN 12 JULY 2026, MIDNIGHT
We are inviting early to mid-career creatives who live, work or study in Salford to apply for the CreaTech Artist CoLab 2026, an expanded artist development programme exploring the intersection of creativity and technology.
Building on last year’s pilot, the 2026 programme has been developed to offer a broader and more in-depth experience. This includes a larger cohort of 10 participating artists, an extended programme of activity over a longer period of time, and a deeper partnership with the University of Salford, providing greater access to facilities, expertise and technical support.
The CoLab is designed to support artists to not only explore creative technology, but to begin actively developing and applying it within their own practice.
You’ll be part of a cohort of artists working across disciplines, coming together to test ideas, learn new approaches and develop work in a supportive, collaborative environment.
About the Programme
The CreaTech Artist CoLab creates space to experiment and explore new ways of working. It’s an opportunity to see what happens when your creative practice meets technology, and how that might shape your future work.
Across a series of workshops, development sessions and supported making time, you will:
- Explore creative technology in a practical, hands-on way
- Work with specialist facilitators, artists and technical teams
- Develop ideas over time, with space to test and refine approaches
- Build relationships with other artists, partners and creative networks in the city
- Begin shaping project ideas for potential development beyond the programme
The programme will take place across August and early September 2026, primarily at the University of Salford and partner locations across the city. Additional optional sessions may be offered as part of the programme.
Key Dates
You will need to be available for the following in-person sessions:
- Welcome | Thursday 6th August, 6.00pm – 8.00pm
- Week One | Monday 10th & Tuesday 11th August, 10.00am – 6.00pm
- Week Two | Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th August, 10.00am – 6.00pm
- Week Three | Monday 24th & Tuesday 25th August, 10.00am – 6.00pm
- Week Four | Monday 31st August & Tuesday 1st September, 10.00am – 6.00pm
- Reflection Session | December (Date TBC)
Optional/additional opportunities:
- BEYOND Festival set-up | Sunday 22nd November (if participating)
- BEYOND Festival event | Monday 23rd November (if participating)
Programme Focus
Each week will explore a different aspect of CreaTech practice, including:
- AI and creative practice
- Theatre, Performance and Technology
- Fashion and digital making
- Immersive experience
Progression and Opportunities
The 2026 programme places a stronger focus on progression, supporting early to mid-career creatives to move from early-stage experimentation towards a more developed professional approach within a supportive environment.
It is being developed in connection with the wider CreaTech ecosystem in Salford, with opportunities for participants to connect with activity linked to the Beyond Festival programme and partners across the city.
At the end of the programme, participants can apply for a new commission of up to £5,000 to produce work for the University of Salford Art Collection and present it at the Beyond Festival.
Additional support throughout the programme may include:
- Signposting to relevant funding opportunities
- Further development support and guidance
- Potential micro-commissions or project opportunities
You’ll Recieve
- A structured programme of workshops, development sessions and supported making time
- Access to facilities including XR labs, digital studios and fabrication resources at the University of Salford
- Support from specialist facilitators and technical staff
- Time and space to develop your practice within a cohort of peers
- Opportunities to connect with artists, practitioners and partners working in CreaTech
- A bursary of £250 to support your participation
- Opportunity to share work as part of the BEYOND Festival fringe (optional)
- A free ticket to the BEYOND Conference
Who Can Apply
- Early to mid-career creatives age 18+. This means you are developing your practice, have started to share your work publicly, and may have some experience of exhibitions, commissions or projects, while continuing to build your skills, profile and artistic direction.
- Based in Salford (live, work or study in Salford, that can include having a studio)
- Working in any discipline (for example visual art, performance, fashion, sound or moving image) where technology is not currently the focus of your practice
- Interested in exploring how creative technology could develop your work in new ways
- Open to collaboration and trying out new approaches
- Interested in sharing work and connecting to wider audiences, networks and opportunities
We understand that not everyone has had the same access to creative technology, training or networks. You don’t need prior experience in creative technology or specialist tools to apply. We’re interested in your practice, your ideas, your curiosity and your willingness to experiment and develop.
Access and Inclusion
We want the CreaTech CoLab to reflect the diversity of Salford and the wider creative community, and to feel open, welcoming and relevant to a broad range of artists.
We actively encourage applications from:
- Artists from the global majority (including Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds)
- Disabled artists and those with access requirements
- LGBTQ+ artists
- Artists from working-class backgrounds or those who have faced barriers to accessing opportunities
We’ll work with selected artists to understand what support they might need to take part fully.
This may include:
- Adjustments to how sessions are delivered or structured
- Flexible approaches to participation where possible
- Access support based on individual requirements
How To Apply
Deadline: Midnight on Sunday 12th July
If you have any questions, please contact: artistdevelopment@thelowry.com
About Beyond
BEYOND is a UK conference focused on creativity, technology and innovation, bringing together artists, researchers, industry and policymakers.
The Beyond Festival programme runs alongside the conference, creating space for artist-led work, experimentation and public engagement.
Project Partners
The CreaTech Artist CoLab is delivered in partnership with Lowry, University of Salford and the University of Salford Art Collection.