Make Shift Creative Camp 2025
Closing Date: Wed 16 July, 17:00 BST
Do you like making things with your hands? Apply now for our Make Shift Camp 2025.
Join us for a five-day creative camp Mon 18 - Fri 22 Aug for Bristol-based people aged 18–30, from working class backgrounds, who like making things with their hands.
Make Shift Camp is an exciting opportunity which brings together people interested to explore, play with technology, and build new ideas and prototypes. It’s for anyone who likes making things - whether you’re into robotics, coding, immersive tech, model making, carpentry, sewing, pottery, or something else entirely.
You'll work in a small group, supported by producers to support you throughout the week.
At the end of the week, you’ll share what you’ve made. It doesn’t need to be polished - we welcome ideas that are rough around the edges, full of imagination, and maybe even held together with tape.
The Camp takes place at Pervasive Media Studio, a space for people using creative technology in surprising ways.
What sort of things will you make?
Our theme for this year’s camp is ‘Home Improvements.’
This is part of a year long theme at Watershed where we are exploring the idea of Home. Through a programme of films, immersive art, talks and workshops, we are looking at the many different ways in which people find, make, imagine, long for and escape home.
We’re inviting participants to think about all the useful (and not so useful) technologies that we have in our homes, and to dream up the next big thing in home automation.
- Is there a better way to make toast that we just haven’t thought of?
- Maybe we need to re-invent closing the curtains?
- Have you got an idea for the next big thing in ironing?
We are thinking wonder over efficiency, fun over function...the more delightfully convoluted and complex, the better. We’re looking for people who are up for smashing ideas together, experimenting with new materials, and being open to what happens.
What support is available?
Each participant will receive:
- £1000 participant bursary
- An additional access bursary if required
- Support from Watershed staff and members of the Pervasive Media Studio community
- Opportunity to collaborate with other people and share ideas with a friendly audience
- Opportunity without pressure to think, make and experiment
How are we supporting access needs?
Pervasive Media Studio is wheelchair accessible, we have a quiet room and there is ongoing invitation and opportunity to discuss any specific access requirements, throughout your engagement with us.
We have staff team members who are neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, racially minoritised, disabled, and are from a range of different class backgrounds, get in touch if you have similar experiences and want to chat to one of us before making an application.
If you would like to learn more about the space and community, visit the Pervasive Media Studio website.
Who is this opportunity for?
To apply, you need to:
- Live in and around Bristol (BS post code area)
- Be aged 18-30 (for the duration of the Camp)
- Identify as being from a working-class background
- Be available for all five Camp days Mon 18 - Fri 22 Aug
We would love for you to have one or more of the things below:
- Are curious about creative tech (like robotics, sensors, or immersive media)
- Have hands-on skills (sewing, model-making, carpentry, etc.)
- Enjoy collaborating with people who think differently from them
What do we mean by ‘working class’ and why are we doing it this way?
We know that class is complicated, and that it means different things to different people.
We also know from our own survey data that people from working class backgrounds and non-university backgrounds are under-represented in our Studio community.
This matters because we want the widest range of people to access opportunity, and value many different forms of perspectives, knowledge and skills. We want to address that imbalance head-on.
We aren’t setting an exact definition here, but some things to ask yourself if any of these have been part of your life: you might have grown up in social or council housing, or on housing waiting lists, used food banks or didn't always have money for the energy meter, have grown up poor, experienced homelessness, generational joblessness, have had to support your family financially from a young age, or have no family that have been to university.
This is not a complete list, and we are trusting that people who feel this opportunity is for them will apply, and those who don’t, won’t.
If this sounds like you, then this is for you. Get in touch if you have any questions.
Get in touch with our Tony Bhajam, Make Shift Producer on Tony.B@watershed.co.uk if you have any questions.
Key Dates
- Wed 16 July 2025 17:00 BST – Applications close
- Mon 21 or Tue 22 July – Shortlisted interviews (online or phone)
- Mon 18 – Fri 22 Aug – Camp days (in-person)
How do you apply?
To apply you will need to complete an application form.
With the exception of contact details, the application form allows responses in written or audio formats. You’ll be asked:
- For your contact details (Name, Telephone, Email)
- To confirm you meet the eligibility criteria by ticking a box
To respond to the following questions:
- Why would you like to participate in the Make Shift Camp?(100–350 words or up to 3 min video/audio)
- We’re looking for people who make playful things with technology. Tell us about something you’ve made, the kinds of things you’re interested in and any technical skills you might have. (100–350 words or up to 3 min video/audio)
Optional: If you’d like us to look at any relevant links, pop them in here.
Let us know your interview date preference (Mon 21 July, Tue 22 July, or no preference).
The form doesn’t have a save function, so we recommend prepping your answers first, then pasting them in. Don’t worry if you're slightly over or under the word/time counts.
What happens when I’ve submitted my application?
You should receive an auto-response from us confirming we have received your application.
After the closing date/time passes, the submitted application forms will be shortlisted by a panel using the criteria outlined below. The shortlist will be invited to attend an online or phone interview which will be around 30 minutes in length. Questions will be sent in advance.
Six participants will be selected from interviews. Our intention is to select a curated cohort of Camp participants that will bring together a balance of skills, ideas and experience.
If you have any access requirements that means the form or online interviews do not work for you, please contact us at any point, on talentdevelopment@watershed.co.uk
What is the assessment criteria?
When assessing eligible applications we will score each one against the following questions:
- Does this person show interest and skills in making playful things?
- Does this person show excitement to engage with the theme?
- Does this person show excitement to collaborate with others?
- Will this opportunity make a difference to the person applying?
What is the overall timeline?
- Wed 18 June – Applications open
- Wed 16 July 17:00 BST –Application form closing date
- Fri 18 July –Shortlisted Applicants notified
- Mon 21 July and Tue 22nd July 10:00 BST – Interviews online or in person
- Thu 23rd July - Applicants notified
- Mon 18 - Fri 22 Aug - Camp will take place
How can you get in touch with any comments, questions, or thoughts?
We look forward to hearing from you and if you have any questions or queries you can:
- Drop us a line on talentdevelopment@watershed.co.uk
- Join us at an Open Studio Friday
Make Shift is made possible with support from Arts Council England and Bristol City Council. Our Make Shift Camp is additionally supported by MyWorld and our partners in Pervasive Media Studio, UWE Bristol and University of Bristol.
Closing Date: Wed 16 July, 17:00 BST