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.

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

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
Project

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...

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.

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
Project

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!

Photo of transducers workshop with five artists participating around a table.
Project Ended in May 2018

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.

Urbanimals
Project

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.

Image of These Pages Fall Like Ash by Circumstance
Project

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

Layered Reality 5G weekend: an introduction
Length: 2m 18s

A short film introducing the Layered Reality 5G weekend: the first urban testbed for public users.

REACT logo - overlapping coloured circles
Project Ended in September 2016

A development scheme which enabled companies to research possibilities in digital media, create new ideas and deliver innovation to market.

Dancers in Danceroom Spectroscopy
Project Ended in November 2013

Part video game, part science visualisation, part art installation, and part social experiment

Stuart Nolan's ideobird
Project Ended in November 2013

In Autumn 2013 Watershed welcomed its first ever residents to mix technology with magic.

Photo of Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone
Project Ended in October 2013

A collection of projects which explore the creative potential of Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.

Photo of Submergence by Squid Soup
Project Ended in September 2013

Award-winning digital artists Squidsoup created an immersive large-scale light installation.

Photo of The Moon by Carmine Mauro Daprile
Project Ended in September 2013

Italian photographer Carmine Mauro Daprile's two photographs feature fantastical characters set against startling visions of the future.

Hello Lamp Post
Length: 4m 28s

Bristol's street furniture is waking up - and it wants to talk to you.