Even snow, hail and a good dose of rain, couldn’t keep our residents away from the Studio this week. With the exception of a few short breaks to make snow angels and go sledging everyone’s been working away on their latest projects and events coming up. This week you should nab some tickets to our artists in the residence showcase, our games panel and our Open Studio tours as part of Bristol Digital Week. Read on to find out about all the latest Studio updates:   

Last Monday the Studio hosted the judging for Watershed’s first ever Playable City Award. The judges, musician Imogen Heap, Google's Tom Uglow and Claire Doherty of Situations selected Hello Lamp Post! by PAN Studio and their collaborators Gyorgyi Galik and Tom Armitage.  You can find out more about why the judges picked Hello Lamp Post! here. Hello Lamp Post! invites you to tune in to the secret conversations of the city and communicate through lamp posts, bus stops, post boxes and other street furniture. Every post box in Bristol has a six figure code, every bollard has two, some of the benches have seven and the storm drains have 14. This summer you will be able to text the word ‘Hello + the name of the object + its code’ to the special phone number and the item of street furniture will immediately text you back with a question. Will it be pleased to see you? Irritated at having been left in the rain? Or will it tell you a secret? The more you play, the more the hidden life of the city will be revealed. We’ll be bringing you more news on the project over the next few months.  

Over at REACT, work is now underway on the eight successful Books and Print Sandbox projects. From writers responding to real time train journeys, to exploring the use of behavioural psychology to gather local news, the successful projects include a rich and fascinating mix of ideas and topics. We can’t wait to see how they develop; you can keep up to date with their progress on their individual project blogs.

REACT have also just launched the dates for their Idea Labs as part of the upcoming Future Documentary Sandbox theme. The internet, user generated content and changing audience expectations have all disrupted what we understand by traditional documentary media. REACT's Future Documentary Sandbox scheme will fund collaborations between academics and companies that explore the overlap between broadcast and the internet, creating new forms and content for the documentary space. The process of application involves participation in one of three half-day workshops. Spaces are going very quickly so if you’re interested make sure you book a place on an Ideas Lab here.

We were joined in the Studio this week by our latest Studio resident Josh Jarrett. Josh is a PhD student in the University of the West of England’s Digital Cultures Research Centre. He is interested in the unique ways digital technologies are used by people to communicate, play, collaborate and create in exciting new ways. His current research builds on these interests through looking specifically at the nature of digital platforms and how these varying corporate or non- corporate structures can foster, as well as stifle, meaningful participation. With a particular focus on online games as platforms in themselves, his research ultimately seeks to ethnographically map out the way large scale collaborative play can be an incredibly productive form of participation. You can find out more on his collaborators page here.  

Bristol Digital Week is now less than a week away, so make sure you reserve some tickets for events you’re interested in soon! The Studio is taking part in a variety of ways. On Tuesday 29 Studio resident Tim Kindberg will be demoing his recent project ‘Films For Phones Together’ at the BBC as part of their technology day. You can find out more here. On Wednesday 30 you can dive into the future of broadcasting, with a day devoted to emerging formats and digital experiences curated by the Studio, UWE and iDocs. Then on Thursday 31 we’re holding an Open Studio with tours throughout the day so book yourself on one here.

In keeping with Digital Bristol Week we also have a Lunchtime Talk from the developers of Dear Esther, thechineseroom on Friday 1 February. Back in 2009 they picked up an award for Best World/Story at IndieCade for their experimental mod, now they have developed into a studio employing over ten people. They will join us to talk about their latest game plans, the importance of taking risks, investing in new ideas and content, and being part of the indie games community. Following straight after that in Watershed’s cinema 3, games consultant and Studio resident Will Luton will be hosting a games panel with Jo Twist, UKIE; Colin Macdonald, commissioner, C4; James Parker, designer, Opposable Games; Simon Johnson, director, SlingShot. It’s one not to miss, so get your tickets here.  

On Sunday Adam, Felix and Liam from nu desine jetted off California for The NAMM show 2013. The NAMM Show is the world's premier music products trade show, where manufacturers from around the globe come to unveil the latest new gear and products. In the Studio production is underway and they’re hoping to start shipping in the coming weeks.

Our Artists in Residence Ben Sadler & Phil Duckworth and Timothy X Atack & MrUnderwood have been preparing for their final showcase on Thursday 31 March, where you can come and see a robot that draws and a kinetic choir that will keep making sound for 100 years. They will be talking about what they’ve been up to for the last four months and showcase the work they have developed. Get your tickets here.

Calvium had their first kick off session for a project in the historic city of Florence. You can find out more about their recent projects on their website here, visit their app creating platform App Furnace here and follow them on twitter for all the most up to date news.

Unfortunately the bad weather on Friday meant that Kate Pullnger couldn’t make it in to Bristol for her Lunchtime Talk on interactive story Inanimate Alice, but never fear as we have already arranged another date that she will be able to join us in the Studio, so mark Friday 1 March in your diary. You can find out more on our events page here.