Creative Technology

The Rooms

We are passionate about the potential of technology to engage people and share knowledge. We use the power of collaboration to create transformative, disruptive and magical experiences.

Our programme of residencies, labs, events and funding schemes responds to emerging technologies, societal challenges and new partnerships. 

The Pervasive Media Studio, our world-leading research lab, is home to a thriving community of artists, technologists, start ups, researchers and industry. Playable City puts people and play at the heart of future cities around the world.


A pixellated digital image of small tree-covered islands floating in a blue sky
Our work

Gathering Moss is a digital landscape, created in 2021, of artistic ideas made in response to the climate emergency. It presents ideas online, to provoke net-zero acts within the real world.

Photo of 3 cranes on Bristol harbourside at night, lit up by multi-coloured lights lights
Our work

In this article Martin O'Leary, Watershed's Creative Technologist, talks about how Watershed's relationship to creative technology has changed, and how we plan to move forward in a way that reflects our values. This article is published on our Studio website.

Playable City Seoul, photo by Jon Aitken
Our work

Watershed is excited to be a partner in MyWorld, a project led by the University of Bristol that will celebrate the West of England’s reputation as an international...

Testing MekaMon and Beasts of Balance prototypes in the Pervasive Media Studio
Article by Jo Lansdowne
Article

Watershed's Pervasive Media Studio is 14 on 14 Feb. In this article, Executive Producer Jo Lansdowne takes a look back at what has changed since 2008, how the Studio works, and what we're thinking about for the future.

Soil Futures, Spring Residencies Showcase
Please note: This event took place in July 2021
Event

Join us for a free and in-person Artists showcase event to experience the work in progress created by Watershed’s Spring Artists in Residence – Katy Connor and Lukus Robbins

Photo of a woman wearing headphones
Our work

A five-year programme connecting the worlds of university research and creative business to develop a shared vision for tomorrow’s creative industries.

Welcome to the Pervasive Media Studio
Length: 3m 30s

Want to be inspired, take a break, and learn more about brilliant projects and people working with creative technology? Maybe you want to know what creative technology even is exactly? Visit the Pervasive Media Studio and find out more!

Pervasive Media Studio
Posted on Tue 13 Nov 2018 by Clare Reddington
Article

A short provocation on Artists as Leaders, the difference between innovation and invention and the danger of constraining the latter with the metrics of the former, given at Beyond Conference to launch AHRC's Clusters investments.

Photo of transducers workshop with five artists participating around a table.
In conversation with a commissioner, a producer and a venue

MAYK, Unlimited and Watershed worked in partnership in May 2018 to deliver Unlimited Connects, a day-long celebration with Deaf and disabled artists.

Photo of Layered Realities 5G showcase in Millennium Square Bristoltol
The world's first urban 5G testbed for public users

An exploration of the potential of 5G through a series of experimental events - asking artists, researchers and creatives to produce bold new works in public space.

Photo of post-it notes on a blackboard for Mapping Your Business Growth workshop
Article by Rachael Burton
Article

Many of the people we work with have developed their ideas into successful and sustainable businesses. However, the leap from creative idea to sustainable business is a really big one. We are exploring how we can support artists and small creative businesses through this challenging journey of business development. We are at the start of the journey, and want to share our current thinking.

Urbanimals
Creating new civic conversation through play

Playable City puts people and play at the heart of the future city, re-using city infrastructure and re-appropriating smart city technologies to create connections – person to person, person to city.

Bear Abouts photo
Posted on Thu 21 Sept 2017 by Clare Reddington
Article

Watershed's approach is not characterised in a specific project or programme, but an ethos of open-ness, responsibility, partnership and passion.

The Rooms festival, REACT
Article by Jo Lansdowne
Article

Watershed works with Universities to support collaborative research and development between academics and practitioners. Together we are exploring digital cultures, designing new products and interrogating the potential of new technologies.

Image of These Pages Fall Like Ash by Circumstance
Supporting ambitious creative practitioners

Watershed's annual funded Residency Programme supports practitioners to develop creative technology projects.